I have been pretty frustrated lately... I did really well after having Norah Kate with my weight loss. I gained about 28 pounds during my pregnancy and lost most of it after only two weeks. Whenever I lost it though, my milk almost dried up! So I started eating everything in site and trying to maintain a well balanced diet. I have been trying to maintain this fine line of eating healthy, not gaining a ton of weight back and still providing nutrition for Baby Girl for about four months now. Whenever I don't get enough calories in, I can definitely tell it nursing wise.... I feel all dried up and flat.
I am about 5 pounds short of my goal weight, but man is it being stubborn!! I haven't been able to really diet and still breastfeed, and right now breastfeeding is 100x more important than those 5 pounds!
My main issue lately though has been my body image... Even though I have pratically lost everything, my body most definitely does not look anything close to how it used to!! Those of you who have had little ones know all to well what I am talking about. I have more bumps and ridges than an old dirt road! The part I have been working on the most is this little fat pocket I now have under my belly button. It is relentless though! It seems it don't matter how many miles I run or how many crunches I do, I still cringe when I look in the mirror...
Fortunately for me, my sweet hubby has been very supportive! He is always giving me sweet compliments and building up my self esteem. I feel kinda shallow for even posting about this, but being healthy and fit is important to me. I don't want to be one of those women who let herself go after having kids, but honestly, I see how easily it happens! It's hard to find the time/energy/motivation on most days!
I have been exercising since about 3 or 4 weeks postpartum. I started out walking at the track and am now running 2 to 3 miles and doing work out videos at the house. Luckily, Norah Kate loves the stroller and never cries when we are at the track... the work out videos are another story though... I am usually half following the videos and half entertaining her.
I am trying not to get discouraged though. I know it took 9 months for my body to get the way it is now, and its been through a lot (I mean, come on, I grew, cooked, baked, and birth another human being!). I have read where it is perfectly normal to take a year or more to lose your baby weight... Hopefully by next summer I will be more proud to put on that bikini!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Pool Time!
On May 3, 2012 Norah Kate took her first dip in the pool at Granna and Papa's house! She loved it! I have a feeling we will have a little fish on our hands!
4 Month Check Up
It's official. I have one big girl on my hands....
I have been excited about Norah Kate's 4 month well check because I couldn't wait to see how much she weighs. All I knew is she is thoroughly filling out her 6 month size clothes. My sweetpea is weighing in at 15lbs and 5 oz!! Heavyweight! :) She is in the 75th percentile for weight and the 92nd percentile for height at 26" long. I am so proud that she is growing so good! She is perfectly healthy!
The information sheet that I got from the pediatrician's office said I could introduce rice cereal twice a day and feed her as much of it as she wanted... However, Mona, the nurse practitioner, said to hold off on the second meal of cereal for a couple of weeks, and not to introduce any veggies until she is about 5 1/2 months old. Sooo... we are not on a diet...yet. I just can't add anything else. They said they don't want my chunky girl bulking up too much!
She is doing great developmentally also! She can make a motorboat sounds with her lips, hold her head up perfectly when on her tummy and look around, she can inchworm off her play mat using her knees and feet, and can hold her weight when you pull her up by her hands. She is smiling, laughing, cooing, and reaching for toys. She can hold her sippee cup and pull her paci out of her mouth. Pretty darn smart if you ask me!
Counting my blessings!
I have been excited about Norah Kate's 4 month well check because I couldn't wait to see how much she weighs. All I knew is she is thoroughly filling out her 6 month size clothes. My sweetpea is weighing in at 15lbs and 5 oz!! Heavyweight! :) She is in the 75th percentile for weight and the 92nd percentile for height at 26" long. I am so proud that she is growing so good! She is perfectly healthy!
The information sheet that I got from the pediatrician's office said I could introduce rice cereal twice a day and feed her as much of it as she wanted... However, Mona, the nurse practitioner, said to hold off on the second meal of cereal for a couple of weeks, and not to introduce any veggies until she is about 5 1/2 months old. Sooo... we are not on a diet...yet. I just can't add anything else. They said they don't want my chunky girl bulking up too much!
She is doing great developmentally also! She can make a motorboat sounds with her lips, hold her head up perfectly when on her tummy and look around, she can inchworm off her play mat using her knees and feet, and can hold her weight when you pull her up by her hands. She is smiling, laughing, cooing, and reaching for toys. She can hold her sippee cup and pull her paci out of her mouth. Pretty darn smart if you ask me!
Counting my blessings!
life was tough after those shots!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Rice Cereal, Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmmm
Last Monday, Norah Kate was four months and one day old. My mama suggested starting her on rice cereal in her bottles a lonnnggg time ago, but I wanted to wait until she was at least four months old. I read online and in my first year Bible, "What To Expect: The First Year" that they should be able to sit up with support before introducing solid foods. They also suggest other things like: interest in what you are eating (check!), ability to turn away from food (check!), ability to grap and reach for things (check!)... so I thought we might be ready.
I went to Walmart and bought Earth's Best Organic Rice Cereal. I decided to go with organic because this is my baby, and while it may be a little more expensive to go the organic route, I really want her to get the healthiest food if at all possible.
For the first feeding I mixed about 1 tablespoon of rice cereal with 2 or 3 tablespoons of breast milk, propped Norah Kate up in my chair, and we chowed down... Well... not exactly. The first few bites were really comical. She kinda got this look on her face, "Mommy, what is this stuff?" She kept spitting it out, and I was thinking she wasn't ready. We got down to the last few bites, and she discovered she LOVED it! She was "shark attacking" the spoon! We had it everywhere... in my hair, all on her arms and legs, and up her nose! We cleaned the bowl!
I went to Walmart and bought Earth's Best Organic Rice Cereal. I decided to go with organic because this is my baby, and while it may be a little more expensive to go the organic route, I really want her to get the healthiest food if at all possible.
For the first feeding I mixed about 1 tablespoon of rice cereal with 2 or 3 tablespoons of breast milk, propped Norah Kate up in my chair, and we chowed down... Well... not exactly. The first few bites were really comical. She kinda got this look on her face, "Mommy, what is this stuff?" She kept spitting it out, and I was thinking she wasn't ready. We got down to the last few bites, and she discovered she LOVED it! She was "shark attacking" the spoon! We had it everywhere... in my hair, all on her arms and legs, and up her nose! We cleaned the bowl!
First Bite
After we got the hang of it...
We are still eating the rice cereal once a day, usually around 7pm, then we take a bath (because we desperately need it after our messy meal!), and then she nurses and goes to bed. Yesterday I gave her 3 tablespoons of cereal and she still cleaned the bowl! My little piggy... She loves the stuff and she was definitely ready to start solids! I have to hold her hands down so that she don't grab the spoon out of my hand! I might start giving it to her twice a day, or mixing bananas with it, but not until we go to the pediatrician this week and they tell me it's okay. I was thinking about waiting until she is 6 months old to start regular baby food... but she loves the cereal so much, she might be ready! We will wait and see what they say at the doctor!
Yummy!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
4 Months Old
I cannot believe I am writing yet another "monthly update" blog! These things are just coming up too frequently and time is flying too fast!
I have been back at work 5 weeks now and it is starting to get a little better. I would much rather be home with my sweetpeas, but I have had a great group of patients the last few weekends that really make my job more enjoyable.
Now for an update on my sweetie....
We love to be walked around, inside and outside. She has learned whenever someone is sitting down holding her and will pitch herself a little fit. She likes to explore her surroundings, and if she is in one of those moods, you may as well just get ready to walk.
She still loves the floor. I have posted pictures of her on her lamb play mat, but unfortunately we are outgrowing it. She is such a wiggleworm that she will squirm herself off of the mat, so now we have graduated to a folded up quilt. Sadly, we are rapidly outgrowing things... I have had to start strapping her in her swing and bouncy seat because she will squirm until her bottom almost hangs off.
Her fist, teething rings, Mommy's knuckle, her thumb, anything she can fit in her mouth. Yes, I think we have reached the teething stage. Bless her heart, she is gnawing on everything! We were at a shower last week and she kept trying to put other peoples hands in her mouth! I can't feel any teeth yet, but I think they are coming.
A baby massage... She gets one every night after her bath. She will just laugh and coo... She already loves to be pampered :)
Her Daddy... She will not talk to me all day.... She will be a happy baby, just quiet. Well, her daddy can walk in the room at night (I have started to keep her up a little later so that he can see her. He has been so busy planting here lately.), and she tells him all about our day! In baby talk of course... she coos and squeals.... A daddy's girl already.
Kisses. She loves to be kissed on the cheek, feet, hands, neck. She will just smile and giggle. She loves attention and is my little lovebug!
Music will make her tears stop almost instantly... I am hoping that she will be more muically talented than me or Matt!
Naps with Mommy.... She seems to sleep longer and harder when we nap on the couch together. On Monday's, after working all weekend, I look forward to our Monday naps! There is nothing more comforting than snuggling with her on the sofa!
She is starting to like tummytime better. She can push herself up on her elbows and is holding her head up really good! She has learned how to roll from her tummy to her back. So, that makes her happy.
When she is sleepy, she does not want to be put down until she is asleep. If you lay her down on the floor while she is still awake, but sleepy, she will fall to pieces.
Her bumbo... I don't think she can sit up quite good enough for it yet. Whenever I put her in it, she gets this terrified look like she is falling!
We are in size 2 diapers and 3-6month (some of these are even snug!) and 6 month size clothes, all of which fit her to a T. I got in trouble by my mama because it took both her and Daddy to get her zipped up in a 0-3 month size sleeper. Is it so bad that I want her to be my little baby for ever?
She is usually only taking two naps a day, but each of them are about 2 hours long. She may catch a little cat nap here and there though.
Rolls, rolls and more rolls. I don't think I feed her enough (said with sarcasam). She has fat rolls on her thighs, neck, wrists... She is so cute and squishy!!
Sleeping through the night still, most of the time.
Saying, oohhh and ahhh and mmmmm (when she says mmm mmm is sounds an awful lot like "mama" haha) and gggggg and squeals...
Still getting mommy's milk every 3 or so hours during the day... no formula yet :)
We have our four month check up next week! I can't wait to see how much she weighs and how long she is!!
I have been back at work 5 weeks now and it is starting to get a little better. I would much rather be home with my sweetpeas, but I have had a great group of patients the last few weekends that really make my job more enjoyable.
Now for an update on my sweetie....
Sweetest smile,ever...
What do we like?
We love to be walked around, inside and outside. She has learned whenever someone is sitting down holding her and will pitch herself a little fit. She likes to explore her surroundings, and if she is in one of those moods, you may as well just get ready to walk.
She still loves the floor. I have posted pictures of her on her lamb play mat, but unfortunately we are outgrowing it. She is such a wiggleworm that she will squirm herself off of the mat, so now we have graduated to a folded up quilt. Sadly, we are rapidly outgrowing things... I have had to start strapping her in her swing and bouncy seat because she will squirm until her bottom almost hangs off.
Her fist, teething rings, Mommy's knuckle, her thumb, anything she can fit in her mouth. Yes, I think we have reached the teething stage. Bless her heart, she is gnawing on everything! We were at a shower last week and she kept trying to put other peoples hands in her mouth! I can't feel any teeth yet, but I think they are coming.
A baby massage... She gets one every night after her bath. She will just laugh and coo... She already loves to be pampered :)
Her Daddy... She will not talk to me all day.... She will be a happy baby, just quiet. Well, her daddy can walk in the room at night (I have started to keep her up a little later so that he can see her. He has been so busy planting here lately.), and she tells him all about our day! In baby talk of course... she coos and squeals.... A daddy's girl already.
Kisses. She loves to be kissed on the cheek, feet, hands, neck. She will just smile and giggle. She loves attention and is my little lovebug!
Music will make her tears stop almost instantly... I am hoping that she will be more muically talented than me or Matt!
Naps with Mommy.... She seems to sleep longer and harder when we nap on the couch together. On Monday's, after working all weekend, I look forward to our Monday naps! There is nothing more comforting than snuggling with her on the sofa!
Dislikes...
Really, nothing. She is such an easy keeper.She is starting to like tummytime better. She can push herself up on her elbows and is holding her head up really good! She has learned how to roll from her tummy to her back. So, that makes her happy.
"Hey you!"
When she is sleepy, she does not want to be put down until she is asleep. If you lay her down on the floor while she is still awake, but sleepy, she will fall to pieces.
Her bumbo... I don't think she can sit up quite good enough for it yet. Whenever I put her in it, she gets this terrified look like she is falling!
"Mommmmm, get me outta this thing...."
What else are we up to?
We just had our first taste of rice cereal (that experience will be a blog entry of it's own :))We are in size 2 diapers and 3-6month (some of these are even snug!) and 6 month size clothes, all of which fit her to a T. I got in trouble by my mama because it took both her and Daddy to get her zipped up in a 0-3 month size sleeper. Is it so bad that I want her to be my little baby for ever?
She is usually only taking two naps a day, but each of them are about 2 hours long. She may catch a little cat nap here and there though.
Mmmm, mmmmm those cheeks!
Rolls, rolls and more rolls. I don't think I feed her enough (said with sarcasam). She has fat rolls on her thighs, neck, wrists... She is so cute and squishy!!
Sleeping through the night still, most of the time.
Saying, oohhh and ahhh and mmmmm (when she says mmm mmm is sounds an awful lot like "mama" haha) and gggggg and squeals...
Still getting mommy's milk every 3 or so hours during the day... no formula yet :)
We have our four month check up next week! I can't wait to see how much she weighs and how long she is!!
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