Body After Baby

So, Samantha over at Mama Notes is hosting a Body after Baby challenge/support system to help mamas who want to lose some/all of their post-baby weight. I came across the Body after Baby thing while still pregnant with Elisha, but, obviously, couldn't do much about it. But, she's starting a new long-term challenge starting January first, so I get to join in! (Although, to be honest, I've already stared. See my post about New Year's resolutions...)

This is me before Max. 130lbs.


And... this is me after Jack. The first picture is about 3 wks. postpartum. (Just in case you're not sure who's who, I'm in the blue shirt in the back. Sigh. Although I DO have a picture of my before going to into surgery to have Jack, you don't get to see that one.)

And last Friday:
Last known pregnancy weight: 195. Ouch.
Weight as of Tuesday morning: 159.

Long term goals:
- lose baby weight (aiming for 135-140.)
- exercise 4-5 days a week
- drink more water!
- remember to take my vitamins 5-6 times a week (7 would be ideal, but...)
- read my Bible/devotions 6-7 days a week

Why am I joining Body after Baby? - for the support, encouragement, and accountability.s
Why do I want to lose weight? - feel better, fit into pre-baby clothes (thus saving money on not buying a new wardrobe!), and working out gives me more energy!

My plan- having never done this, and not knowing how my body will drop the pounds, and such, I think it's best to aim low and if the pounds fall off faster, than YAY!! =) I think I'm going to aim for 1-2 pounds a week and see how it goes.

More time!! I need more time!!

I think that when babies are born, their mamas should be given an extra hour per day. And that should be per child, so, 2 babies equals two more hours. And so on and so forth. (So yeah, Mrs. Duggar would have almost two full days to our one.) I don't mean just around Christmas, either. Nope, every single day should be made longer. I'd tell you about my long to-do list, but that would just add one more thing to said list, and, frankly, I don't have the time. I really shouldn't be sitting here doing this, but I'm waiting for baby Jack to settle down so I can go wrap some presents and write some notes to go with presents. Cuz I know babywearing is awesome, and all, but it would much nicer if he'd just take a nap here on the couch.

And he's not a good burper, so of COURSE he just spit up. Which in turn ticks him off.... you get the idea.

While I don't mind sitting here and cuddling and comforting my baby, it really doesn't help to maintain my get up and go. And when I CAN get up and go, that's when DD, who is SUPPOSED to be sleeping, wakes up crying. If it's not one thing, it's another.

Can't see straight, but still thankful

Last night when I went to bed, I was so tired I couldn't see straight and was dizzy. When I woke up this morning I was still a bit dizzy and having trouble focusing and seeing straight. I don't know why. On top of that, Max has been extremely difficult to put to bed. I know it's probably a phase, and I know it's probably normal, but MAN is it frustrating and exhausting!!

Having kids can be extremely frustrating and tiring, and I think all parents must experience it at one time or another. But in the midst of all of it, we are often reminded that we have so much more to be thankful for than we have to complain about.

Last night, right before Max started cranking up, I heard (read) about a fellow blogging mommy in FL who lost her 2 year old son to a pool accident. It happened RIGHT before I read about. It sure put things into perspective. (Or, at least, it helped.) Because even though I dislike tantrums, and sleep deprived nights drive me batty, it means I still have my babies. I can still hold them and cuddle with them, wipe their noses, read stories, change diapers, etc., etc., etc. I can only imagine a small amount of the pain that this other mommy is experiencing. I can only pray for her, and pray also that God would continue to protect my babies. I can only hug my babies tighter, and remember that they are a precious gift from God. And I can only hope to remember that when I can't see straight, or am completely fed up with them.

AMAZING baby carrier!

Last week I won a giveaway for a Mei Tai style baby carrier from a blog that I follow- My Silly Monkeys. The carrier was from and made by Anna, who has an Etsy shop she started up earlier this year- Clothed in Scarlet.

I was really excited because 1) I won, and who doesn't like winning?!?! (We watched "A Christmas Story" last night, and the dad winning that lamp springs to mind here...) And 2) you can never have enough baby carriers! (Unless, of course, you don't HAVE a baby. Then that'd be weird.) Oh, and 3) I didn't have this particular type of carrier, nor had I ever tried one.

Anyways, it arrived in the mail yesterday (along with a TON of other great stuff, which was fun. Except that instead of having fun stuff arrive over several days, thus spreading out the joy, it's a big heap of joy all at once. Oh well.) and I could hardly wait to try it out.
It is made out of a big piece of gray corduroy with a beautiful piece of embroidered maroon brocade on one side (the front, although I think if DH tries it out he'll be using it with that facing in... not so manly, you know?). Attached are 4 long strips of the same corduroy. Two are sewn on straight and go around your waist, and two are sewn at an angle, and go over your shoulders. The corduroy was amazingly soft, and had little flowers embroidered on it in purple, maroon, and silver.

First I looked up the website that was listed on the enclosed card, so I could figure out how to use the carrier. Then I had to wait until the timing was right- Jack was awake, but happy and relaxed. That took a while. After several failed attempts I finally got him in and got the carrier all tied up. It was extremely easy to do (with a cooperative baby, that is) and once it was on it was SO comfortable!!

One of the benefits of this style of carrier is that it works for many different "holds" and will work for babies from the newborn stage well through the toddler age. To be honest, I haven't figured out what the weight limit is, but I know it will be able to hold Max if I want it to. It is VERY well sewn, and looks like it will last a long long time. (And it doesn't hurt that it's machine washable!!!)

Back to the "holds" part. Jack's favorite way to sleep and to cuddle is tummy to tummy, so this is perfect! (If the picture is too hard to see, try looking at it from a different angle.)
I have the long straps crossed in the back, and wrapped around to the front, and tied around him. The can be tied below him, but it's easier for me to do it like this for now. I have to say this carrier is by FAR the most comfortable I've ever used, and the most stylish, to boot! It is also the only one I own that is truly hands-free. (Okay, so I won't be doing any toe touches, but you get the idea.) I didn't feel any strain in either my shoulders or back, even after over an hour of wearing him! Jack is already 11 lbs. 8 oz. so I was starting to feel it in all the other carriers I have!!

I HIGHLY recommend Anna and her carriers! I cannot say enough good things about this mei tai, and the only downside I've found is that it's hard to put on with a fussy newborn. Other than that, it's amazing! I'll be taking it everywhere we go, and it's definitely my favorite!

A thousand words

So the saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Well, I don't have the time or energy to write a thousand words, let alone more than that, so I'll just stick to a bunch of pictures, possibly with some captions thrown in for good measure.

Okay, here we have a good ol' family shot. Back row, L-R: my middle brother, Max, me, DH. Front row: Oma, baby Jack, Opa, youngest brother, and sister-in-law. She was asleep from pain meds. Don't hold it against her, at least we're all in the picture!



Oma and Opa playing with Baby Jack and Max.
Oh yeah. That is all.
Hanging out.

And now, I am tired. I wanted to go to bed early tonight, and it fast becoming not early. Sigh.

Finally, a good excuse!!

So, by now you all know that I'm not real great at keeping this thing up. I did better this spring... but now... NOW I have a really good excuse for not being on here much! Actually, I have several. They are, in no particular order:
- serious lack of sleep
-babies to change
- laundry to fold
- diapers to stuff
- lack of sleep
- bills to pay
- babies to feed
- babies to change
- stories to read
- no sleep
- errands to run
- no sleep

etc., etc., etc.

We're alive... barely, it feels like. I can't see straight right at this moment, though, so I'm going to go to bed. And hopefully get some sleep... that is, if both Max and Jack will deign to sleep for a decent amount of time at the SAME time.

You can be praying for us. We're tired.

Three weeks and 4 days later...

I'm back to post about baby "Jack" being born! Yeah, okay, I wasn't gone. Except for 4 days in the hospital, I've been here the whole time. (Can I just say that the hospital was AMAZING!?!? So much better then when I had Max!) Anyway, I've just been slacking on the blog posting front. And this is going to be short because I'm going to bed momentarily. I didn't get a nap today, and my throat hurts.

Jack is not his real name, of course, but he was born on October 23, at 10:29 am. 7 lb. 12 oz. 20 in. long. And he is growing by leaps and bounds!! His sister is adjusting fairly well to his presence, but we shall see!