9 Days Post Pregnancy

So here we are, I've made it past week one and into the second week of the craziness that is now my life. I thought I'd update everyone on how I am, as well as Bradley and Robby!! First lets start with how amazing it feels to have both of these boys in my life. I feel like they are everything I never knew I wanted and I am so blessed to have them. Robby has been sick on and off since baby was born, so they unfortunately haven't had a lot of bonding time. He isn't showing much interest in him yet, he has his moments of jealousy though. I was using a pillow of Robby's to rest Bradley on for a few short minutes till Robby started pulling at it. I moved the baby and Robby takes his pillow, hides it in his closet and shuts his bedroom door!! Cute but definitely trying to tell me something! He on occasion will "pet" Bradley's head or back which tickles my heart!! I am semi struggling with the guilt of not being able to split my time with the boys 50/50. Bradley nurses so often right now that it just is hard to do much with Robby although I do try to fit in some coloring or block building in between feedings. I hope he isn't feeling left out and I am just feeling what most moms do after a sibling is born??? 

Now on to the little one, he is so very pleasant to be around its ridiculous!! He sleeps so well at night, in fact I have to wake him up every 2-3hrs to make sure he is eating! I feel more rested than I thought I would which makes the days not so hard to handle. He is still in his "newborn" phase and doesn't do much of anything except sneak in a smile here and there, which is probably just gas but I'd like to think it's more than that. I still am in awe of his black hair and darker tone, we really did end up getting one child like me and one child like Robert!!

Post pregnancy body update, I look a lot thinner than I expected with this being my 2nd pregnancy. Everyone informed me how much harder it is to shed the pounds. I guess I have some awesome genes to thank for that! I don't know how far I am weight wise from my pre-pregnancy body. Its more about what you look like then what the numbers say anyways!! I am going to start doing half an hour or so on our elliptical just to speed up losing the rest. So I guess that's about it.... Now I'm just anxiously awaiting the cooler weather and the holiday season to start!! Hope everyone is having a great week!!

 

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Bradley is home!

So it's the first full day in my new adventures at home as a mother of two boys, and I'm still alive!

 I wanted to share my birth story because I know I enjoy reading others.

First let's start with a chain of disappointments on Wednesday the 19th, I was supposed to be induced (elective induction) but that was cancelled due to the L&D being full. I received a phone call from the other hospital my doctor delivers too asking if I could make it there ASAP to get in, of course Robert wasn't home from work yet and we live at the very least 30mins away so I had to say no...let's just say that night was full of tears and sleeping. I was so looking forward to meeting Bradley and to start the journey of getting my body back. The next morning, Thursday, I got an appointment with my lovely doctor to "strip my membranes" which I'm told can help start labor. Since Robert had already taken the day off (thinking baby would be here) we then spent the day walking! I walked about 4-5 miles !! Sure enough that night contractions started!! Fairly painful ones too!! So I spent the night timing them as they got worse and man did they get bad!! But they never got close enough (hospital wants them 5mins or less apart) They were coming around 7-9mins apart, so although I was in so much pain I knew they wouldn't admit me .... I told dear Robert to go to work the next morning, Friday, because I didn't think it would happen any time soon. Luckily my mom had the time to come spend the day playing with Robby while he was at work. I don't think I would have been able to cope otherwise. The contractions stayed the whole day and by Friday night I was so exhausted and feeling defeated, we decided to see if they would admit me. Robert and I spent a few hours in triage and sadly was sent home. We decided I would stay at my moms till Sunday and Robert would return home with little guy. I was in no shape to be around kids! My induction was rescheduled for Sunday, so I had to just tough it out. I have to say I was in so much pain those few days, being stuck in early labor is not something I would wish on my enemy!! Very early Sunday morning my mom decided to take me in again, she's never seen me in such pain and I don't think she quite knew what to do. Although my contractions were still 7mins apart they admitted me! I'm not sure if it was because i was due for induction that afternoon, the fact that it was my second visit or because I had progressed to 4cm. All i know is the feeling of relief was amazing.... Just knowing it would be over soon.... Once I got my room I immediately asked for an epidural, after three days of pain and no sleep I needed it!! I was able to nap nearly 4-5hrs after that!! (I had hopes of being able to do this one naturally but one thing you learn with having kids is that nothing goes as planned!!) Then the fun started.....

Around noon I was dialed to 6cm and they decided to break my water. I asked the doctor if my epidural was working soon after because I stated feeling more pressure, she checked and I had progressed to 7cm.  I decided to let keep my dose where it was at because I didn't wanna risk being fully numb by the time pushing came. (sadly that was the case with Robby which resulted in a long time pushing) Thirty minutes later the pressure was pretty bad and I asked the doctor about it.... She checked and she said I was complete and time to get the doctor to start pushing!! It happened so fast!! I stared pushing and 25mins later at 1:26pm Bradley was here! It was so much quicker than I could have imagined.

When they laid him on my chest and I saw his head full of jet black hair and his hairy body, I thought to myself he is the total opposite of Robby with his thin blond hair!! Although they had similarities, more notably they weighed the same and were only .5 inches different in height! They both resemble Robert over me which I'm okay with :) It's funny how we would question what it'll be like and what he would look like, then he came and everything is perfect. Bradley is everything I could dream of and more....

Since everything went smoothly we were able to return home the next day and start our life as a family of four! I am looking forward to the struggles and the joy that is coming our way, I am so very blessed to have 3 amazing boys in my life.

 

 

 Dad loves his little boy so much...

First day at home; wearing some of his brothers "hand me downs"

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Full Term and Milestones

So this is what it looks like to hit 150 on the scale, not only hit it but passed it by a few.....

I am at 37 weeks finally which means I'm "full term", which means baby can come anytime now and be healthy... I'm not "due" till the 23rd though. Its like a tease when the doctor tells you baby is safe to come out when they choose because then all I can think about is wanting to meet my little guy and how I'm over carrying around this huge belly! I am finally at terms with gaining about 10 more lbs with this baby than I did with Robby. If I am completely honest with myself I haven't been as healthy (food wise) as I was with Robby, so its not a total surprise where those 10 lbs came from.... I am excited and nervous about our new addition finally arriving!! I am as equally excited to shed this pregnancy weight!! I hope to never see 150+ on the scale again.....

OK, so maybe this is what 154 looks like

Other news to speak on, Robby has been going to a daycare two times a week for about a month now. I was torn up about it, but knew that I needed the break before baby comes. I also will need those days after the baby comes to be able to keep my sanity. He really has been enjoying himself and learning, he (as of this week) no longer cries or pouts when I drop him off but rather waves and says bye .... He actually SAYS bye bye. I haven't spoken much on the topic here, but my son is still not a talker. He is 22 months and besides ut-oh, its all gibber gabber. So when he got out the word bye the other day, I was so very happy!!! It helps me believe that what I'm doing with him is the right thing. So hooray for Robby and hooray for mommy ;)

Robert and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary this month as well! Can not believe in a little over 3 years we have managed to do and go through as much as we have....I love my family very much!

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It's a ....

(side note: I made these invites out of left over crafts I had around the house!!)

Well I couldn't hold out on learning the sex, I'm not good with surprises plus I started to feel nervous about  it being a girl and having NOTHING girly.... I can't say I was surprised that it's a boy, I always thought it was from the very beginning. I'm super excited about it though, Robert Jr will have a playmate for the rest of his life and I won't ever have to deal with a teenage girl on her period. (ha ha) Yes I plan on stopping after this one, I've always pictured having just two. 

Since I decided to keep the secret till the baby shower invites went out, which happened on Monday, I figured I would let the rest of the world (those that care anyways) in on the news!! Yes we have a name picked out and no I'm not sharing... people always tend to ruin a name before the baby comes (ha ha)

Hope everyone is having a great summer and remember to love those around you 

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Attack of the Cravings

So even though I promised myself I wouldn't worry this time around about my weight and how I am going to get it off after the baby, I find myself stressed on a regular basis over this topic. I don't know if its because I've always been little, probably too little at times but its not because I am unhealthy. I just have never had a problem with weight. I mean putting on 30+ pounds with my first pregnancy had me in quite a panic. Although the weight came off rather quickly, I was about 3-5lbs shy of my original weight before finding out I was indeed pregnant again. I think most people would say I "needed" those few pounds anyways!!

Now I find myself more than half way through this pregnancy and at my last appointment gaining 6lbs, IN ONE MONTH!! My doctor says its fine because I have "wiggle room" being small to begin with. Well now every time I sneak a cookie or have a few to many carbs in a day, I kick myself. I know I need to gain and I am not cutting back on food, I have a person growing inside me. I just want to make sure I am putting on the right amount of weight and that the foods I am eating are benefiting the little mister or miss inside. I only have ONE body and I don't want to cheat myself out on being able to love it forever, even after kids. The snacking is worse this time around though, probably due to a growing toddler with lots of energy, wants a nibble every few hours of something. So I have found a pretty great resolution, smoothies! I have been making homemade juices for around a year now, but they don't cut it when it comes to craving unhealthy snacks. Smoothies have been working pretty well though!! I wanted to share some of the best recipes I've found or created myself, pregnant or not you will love these. Some of the ingredients you may have to go out and buy, but most should be easy to find. I plan out a weeks worth at a time so that fruits are still fresh by the time I get to it.

My Favorites:

Apple, Carrot, and Ginger

• 1 cup fresh carrot juice
• 1 green apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tablespoon honey

Peach-Strawberry Shake

• 2 medium-size ripe peaches
• 1 cup strawberries, rinsed and hulled
• 1 cup milk (soy, skim, 1%)
• 1 cup ice cubes

* Sugar, as needed (if fruit isn't at this sweetest)

Cherry-Berry Tea

• 3/4c Tea *
• 6 ounces silken tofu
• 10 ounces (2 cups) frozen sweet cherries
• 6 ounces (1 cup) frozen grapes
• 3 ounces (1/2 cup) frozen blueberries

*Brew tea strong, and let it refrigerate before adding to blender (about 40 mins)
**Choose your favorite tea, Rooibos, Black, Hibiscus are the ones I've tried

Super Soy Smoothie

• 1/2 cup pineapple cubes
• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 cup carrot juice
• 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

Banana-Blueberry Smoothie

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt

Chamomile-Banana Smoothie (Robby really enjoys this one!)

• 1 cup strong chamomile tea, room temperature
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Golden Nectar Smoothie (this is a great morning smoothie or a pick me up during the day)

• 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice (about 6 oranges)
• 1/4 cup+ 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
• 2 ripe bananas

Green Machine (a nutrient-dense elixir !!)

• 6 romaine leaves, chopped
• 4 kale leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley sprigs
• 1/2 cup chopped pineapple
• 1/2 cup chopped mango
• 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

Also, we have a huge bag of flax seed we bought from Costco and I try add a few teaspoons to each smoothie for added nutrition.

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Sober birthdays

Pregnant for another birthday.... 

I was pregnant with Robby on my 24th birthday, nursing on my 25th, and I will be pregnant again on my 26th.... If everything goes as planned I will be nursing on my 27th as well. It's crazy to think the second half of my twenties is being spent baring/raising my children! Before baby, I wasn't sure if having ONE child was in my future, now I'm preparing for number two. It hasn't been easy to say the least, it's changed my body forever, it also put a lot of emotional strain on myself and my relationship... I've learned to live more for today and less for yesterday/tomorrow. 

  24th Birthday

 25th Birthday

It also had its hand in slowing my social life dramatically and with that I'll get back to the topic at hand, I went through my heavy drinking phase in my dare I say it high school and early twenties with drinking pretty hard every weekend. I'm sure that has a lot to do with my being able to give up that lifestyle, you know, the been there done that. I know what I am missing out on and well I'm not missing out on much. I am not the girl I was before having babies and I am very thankful that having children has change me. My birthday is rapidly approaching and being sober isn't a big deal. I do find myself daydreaming at times about being able to sit pool side with close friends in a small bikini (crossing fingers my post second baby body is bangin') and have a strong cocktail in hand. I'm not an alcoholic and I don't feel bad for wanting to drink socially/casually again. I'm sure I am not the only mother that feels this way, right!?!? 

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