A Year in Review

Yesterday was my birthday, so I couldn't help but think of the past year and how I had so many wonderful, life-changing events occur.  I can say with absolute certainty that I am not the same woman I was on my 32nd birthday; this was definitely the best year of my whole life! 

First, I graduated with my Masters degree this summer after three and a half years of endless lectures, countless group projects and never ending homework.  (After all I invested, in time and money, it is still hard to believe that I NEVER have to go to school again!)  Second, while finishing up school, I managed to carry and deliver the most beautiful baby girl. I did both of these things while working full time and nurturing all my close relationships.  It was definitely a year of personal growth and maturity for me.

So, it really is hard for me to imagine how this next year can compare to the exciting year that just passed.  But that got me thinking of all the exciting "firsts" I have to look forward to this year:  what Lily's first word will be, what her voice will sound like, her first steps, activities she will be interested in (music, like daddy?), what kinds of food she will like and dislike, what kind of personality she will develop.  This year may not be one of huge, life-changing events for me, but will definitely be one for my daughter and that is even more exciting.  I realized yesterday that it is no longer ever going to be just about me, my family always comes first.  I must relish all the big milestones, as well as the small, everyday activities and make this next year the best of Lily's life!! 

One Month

Lily turned one month on October 8th, here is a little bit about her:

-weighs 9 lb 13 oz (65th percentile), 21 3/4 inches long (85th percentile)

-loves to go for walks, but always falls asleep in her stroller

-has started tummy time and is getting such a strong neck (and loves looking at herself in the mirror)

-Daddy has nicknamed her "bubba", she loves when he serenades her

-has started sleeping 5 hours at a time at night (yay!)

-started smiling (and not just because of gas!) :)

-had her first Twilight experience (she loved it, though was on Team Jacob, our house is divided!)

-just started taking a pacifier, but still does not really like it (usually spits it out within a minute)

-makes lots of noises, especially when waking up and wants out of her swaddle

-went apple picking for the first time

-developing such a sweet, loving personality!!

Maternity Leave = 3 Month Vacation....Right??

So clearly I had a warped view of what maternity leave was going to be like before I went on it.  Here are some of my misguided assumptions, which have since been proven untrue:

1.  I would shower and dress every day.

False.  Although I have been lucky enough to shower every day, I can count on one hand (and not even use every finger) the amount of times that I have put on "real clothes".  I never understood this concept before, I mean, how hard is it to shower and get dressed in the morning?  I have since come to realize that this is not easy with a newborn for a couple reasons.  First, I am lucky if I only get spit up on twice a day (I have, so far, maxed out at five times in one day) so putting on actual outfits is very unrealistic and unnecessary.  Second, I am not exactly back to my fighting weight, so would have to wear my maternity clothes.  After nine months of pregnancy, getting bigger and bigger, the thought of putting those clothes on AFTER having the baby does not appeal to me.  So the only logical answer is to wear yoga or sweat pants every day to match my stylish nursing tanks! :)

2.  I would (learn to and) cook dinner for Erik every night.   

False.  If learning to cook means pinning recipes that look good on Pinterest, then consider me Top Chef.  But if it means putting those recipes into practice, then I am exactly where I started...an expert at boiling water.  Poor Erik is still coming home from work to an empty dinner table, and ends up cooking for me!  I really don't know where the days go that I feel like I don't have enough time to cook (I guess I do watch a lot of HGTV), but maybe it is still just that I don't want to learn....

3.  I would jump right back into my pre-pregnancy diet and exercise routine to lose the baby weight.

False.  I could easily blame this one on the doctor since they are not allowing me to exercise for six weeks post delivery, but the doctor is not the one feeding me ice cream after dinner or muffins during late night feedings.   I never realized how hard it would be to go nine months eating whatever I wanted, back to watching what I eat.  I knew I should have probably eaten better during my pregnancy to make all this easier, it was just too easy to eat anything/everything while I could blame the baby!  Right now, my excuse is the 500 extra calories I am supposed to eat while breastfeeding, the only problem is, 500 calories on top of the already excessive amount is not what the doctor meant.  I would like to lose the weight and in a timely manner, but right now, my focus is and should be this new baby....and my reese's peanut butter cup ice cream.

(I found this on Pinterest, and thought it was fitting.  It is not Lily, though I am sure she would say the same)






I am not giving up on any of these, I still have over eight weeks left to redeem myself.  Though don't be surprised if you see me at the end of my leave wearing sweat pants, pinning more recipes on Pinterest (not actually cooking any of them) while eating a huge bowl of ice cream.

Also, I couldn't post this without a new picture of Lily.  :)

Time.... please slow down!!

So, some would say that the first week home I was a little "hormonal".  I had read that this was normal and that postpartum, I could experience the baby blues.  This happens to some parents who either have a hard time connecting to their child (which was definitely not the case, because I could not love or feel more connected to another human being than I do to my daughter) or have a hard time connecting to each other (again, not the case, as Erik and I feel more connected over this shared experience than we have over the past 13 years together).

 New family of three!

My little nugget!

Erik and his tiny bubba!

There was only one thing that really set me off in hysterics...any mention of Lily getting bigger or older.  I could not handle the thought of my tiny, little peanut growing up so fast.  So any mention of her "looking bigger than she did yesterday" or her "getting so big" made me cry my eyes out.  It wasn't that I didn't know that her hair was getting a little longer and her cheeks a little chubbier every day, it was that I needed time to slow down so I could enjoy this time together longer.    Unfortunately for them, I unleashed this beast on my mother, in-laws, multiple sisters and friends and especially Erik (sorry guys, blame the hormones!).  In truth, I can't wait for all the stages Lily and I will go through together and hopefully, for Erik's sake, I will not be a crazy crier through every one of them.

So, I know that I can not slow down time, the best I can do is document every funny face, new arm gesture and all that was the perfection of our first week together. 

I am one week today!! (sniffle, sniffle...)