100 Days of school....by a rookie Kindergarten Mom

100 Days….by a Rookie Kindergarten Mom

100 days of Kindergarten are officially in the books….! It literally feels like yesterday that I was fighting back tears as my oldest turned his back, held my neighbors hand (THANK YOU, Ezra!), and walked on the school bus for his first day of Kindergarten.

I had no idea what to expect going into the school year, especially with this being our first experience with school other than preschool. On one hand, I was so excited …but on the other hand, I was scared, nervous and so sad because I felt like a new chapter was starting for us.

I’ve had this post in the back of my mind since the fall, but I wanted to give us all time to adapt to our new rhythm and “normal” before I opened up about what I’ve learned over the last 5 months & my thoughts for those who will be sending their firstborn into kindergarten.

1. I wasn’t prepared for the emotions I felt the first 2-3 weeks: I can honestly say I thought I was somewhat prepared for the morning that my oldest stepped on the bus. And I was. Sure, I cried….But to be real with you it wasn’t the moment that he stepped on the bus and I cried that really got me. It was the moments after that I wasn’t prepared for. I had an empty feeling inside the whole day…wondering if he made it to his class alright? Was he ok on the bus? What was he doing that moment? Was he making friends? Was he making good choices? It was so hard not knowing what he was doing all of the time. Can someone invent a body cam for kids please???!! ha! I swear I looked around the house for him for the first few weeks.

   I’m not going to lie in saying that I felt like a part of me was missing.

2. There are a lot of good people. Pick a school where you can trust in your community: I still feel a little bit of that emptiness, but I will tell you that the incredible community and support system that we have puts me at ease. Parents, do your due diligence and make sure you have people that genuinely CARE about kids, and your kid in particular when picking a school. I’m forever thankful for the fact that we are surrounded by so many great people in our community. From our neighbor that held my son’s hand as he was on the verge of tears getting on the bus for the first time, to the principal that chased down every single bus trying to find my son when he got on the wrong bus, to the lunch lady that makes him smile, and to his great teachers, I’m forever grateful.

3. Hello, germs. Everyone said “just wait till they get to school” and I kind of rolled my eyes thinking….both boys are already in school…we know all about germs. #ROOKIEMOM lol. Preschool ain’t got nothing on Big kid school. Trust me….YOU DO NOT KNOW GERMS UNTIL BIG KID SCHOOL. I realized this about 2.5 weeks into the school year with Max basically walked off the bus on a Friday afternoon and puked everywhere. He proceeded to spread it to my middle son and ME (UGH) and right then and there, I knew that I had been initiated. Then in November, he caught a horrible cold that last a good 3-4 weeks & had an eye infection. After that point, I was desperate to find a way to battle the germs! I’ve been using thieves essential oils and the boys have elderberry every morning. I started this the day after my middle son, my husband and I got the flu and I swear its the reason Max didn’t catch the flu from us. Also, I was putting thieves on my middle son 2-3 times a day and I he was recovered from the flu within 3 days! Coincidence? Maybe…? .maybe not.

4. They’ll be tired: the first few days of kindergarten I think Max was running on adrenaline. But as the first full school week came to a close, he was exhausted. I’m talking….whiny, tired, and in bed at 5:50 pm exhausted! The first 6-8 weeks were a huge adjustment. A couple of times we even gave him a nap when he got home from school! We also napped him on the weekends. I will say that now that we are 5 months in, he’s nowhere near as tired. I think this is partially him adjusting, and partially maturity and growth especially because he is on the younger side in the grade.

5. You think you’ll have more time: In the back of my mind, I thought once Max went to kindergarten I would have so much more time. But in all honesty, I feel like I have less! I’m trying to cram everything into that 7 hour period that he’s gone so that when he gets home, I’m there. And if I’m not, I have the worst mom guilt ever. Also, it has been hard juggling my schedule. I used to have a schedule where I worked in the afternoons. I’ve completely swapped that so I’m home to get him off the bus, and I feel like I’m still adjusting to being ready to leave the house at 8 am 3 mornings a week. I also feel like I’m missing out on one on one time with the baby & my middle son because when I get home from work, Max is straight off the bus, and I have all three of them awake. But if I work later, I have less time with Max. Sometimes you just can’t win…

6. Get involved: I think it is a no brainer that being involved in your child’s education at home will only make them more enthusiastic and learn quicker. I also highly recommend getting involved in your children’s school, if time allows. I volunteered to be the room mom which keeps me really switched in with his classroom and events. I also volunteer in the lunch room twice a month. He is always really excited to see me at school, and it allows me to be a part of his day, spend time with him, get more familiar with the school, and meet his friends!

7. Prepare for mental overload every morning. Get organized!: Sometimes I feel like my head is spinning. Is it library day? Is it show and tell? Oh, next week Wednesday is PJ day?? Did you pack all of your books and your sneakers in your bag? I have a huge calendar on my fridge with all of our schedules because if I didn’t…we would be in trouble! I can’t wait till all 3 are in school LOL. Creating a routine in the morning has also been huge for us. It helps set him up for a successful day and keeps our mornings as stress free as possible.

8. They love it. I revert back to #2. My boy loves going to school. He loves his friends, his teachers, and everything about it. Don’t be surprised if they have a blast (most days) at school. This really helps with #1.

9. It’s not going to always be smooth and easy: I think we all know this from our own experience with school, but we are all guilty of living in the “bubble” and thinking “that won’t happen to my kid.”

   Every day isn’t going to be easy (for them and us). I’ve tried to remember this, knowing his journey through school is a long one, and everyone develops at different rates. Playing the comparison game can be a dangerous thing and its best to keep the blinders on.

   Celebrate the days where they come home with awards-no matter what they are- (build them up), and on the days that aren’t so good….just remember they’re humans too. They’re just kids, trying to find their way. We all have not so good days even as adults! The key is learning from them, and moving on!

10. You’ll be amazed with their growth:

    100 days later, I’m amazed with his (and his classmates) growth in every area! Reading, writing, math…. and most importantly his growth as a young boy.

    As hard as it is to say goodbye in the morning and see him turn his back and head on his latest adventure, it is even more fulfilling and rewarding seeing him gain confidence, and grow as a person.

    I guess this quote sums this whole motherhood thing up:

    “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."

    - Elizabeth Stone, teacher and author

xo

Alex

My Three Sons: The Transition from Two--> Three Kids

I’ve done a lot of reflecting over the last 4 months, that is, when I’ve had time to think. Which has basically been only when I’m in the car, or nursing in the middle of the night because my house is crazy town. ha. Probably the most asked question I get from friends, family, acquaintances, and honestly random people is “So, whats it really like with 3?”

Well….it’s taken me a LONG time to gather my thoughts and really get clarity on Life with 3. Partially because its been so busy, partially because I wanted to wait until I felt like I really had a handle on what its like. But first…we need to talk about the transition from one to two because that really sets the stage.

Flashback: The transition from one child to two

I’m going to be real with you guys. Going from one kid to two absolutely rocked. my. world. mentally, physically. Everything.

And even though it was super hard for me to adjust to the new family of four dynamic, I never really felt I was “done” after having Sebastian, our second. I wanted to be done with pregnancy, and the sleepless nights, and pumping. Done with the weight gain ((then losing it)), and done with all of the crazy stages you go through: separation anxiety, the teething, etc. We were in such an amazing place. The boys were napping at the same time, Seb could play on his own, and was going into the 2 year old Pre-K. I wanted to continue gaining this independence. Going places was getting so much easier, including travel. And I was pretty scared of moving into the so called “zonal defense” 24/7 when you add a third child.

But…. I wasn’t done feeling a baby kick for the first time. Or nursing and snuggling with a newborn, smelling that baby smell. Or experiencing a babies first smile, giggle, and step again. Or watching a baby grow into a toddler into a little boy. Watching his/her relationship with their siblings and my husband. Those were the moments I wasn’t done with.

Regardless of wanting and desiring those special moments one more time, I was definitely super anxious after finding out the news we were expecting our third. Two kids to three. How would we manage? I felt like the transition was so hard from one to two. How would we manage with ANOTHER?!!

So. How is it really?

Well, in a nutshell, it’s hard. And I’m gong to be completely honest. Three kids is kicking my ass. I’m more tired than I’ve ever been. Some days I feel like I’m barely managing it all, that I’m drowning- family, work, things around the house, and having some time for myself. Leaving the house is literally a mission at times. I’ve never ordered more from amazon prime. haha. I look around and the house looks like a tornado hit it half the time.

But then I take a deep breath and realize that my kids are happy. and loved. and healthy. And this is a season that seems like an eternity, but its not.

What keeps me sane in the organized chaos?

This is what keeps me sane: I believe that there are seasons of your life where certain things get prioritized. And right now, prioritizing my babies is where I’m at.

I know people talk about having it all. I don’t believe in having it all. I think the second you realize that “having it all” doesn’t exist, you immediately remove pressure from yourself and really focus on the couple things that need to be on top of that list. And that doesn’t mean that the items on the bottom of the list get forgotten about or don’t matter. They’re there. But they are tucked away for a rainy day when your priorities and life changes.

So, I know I’ve got a LONG way to go. I’m only 4 months into this crazy show and I’ve got a lifetime to go, but here’s some things I’ve learned in my transition to a family of 5:

1. The early stages of being a family of four have prepared you for being a family of five: when it comes to be outnumbered, I feel like I’m somewhat used to this. With my husband working late seasonally, I’ve had to be there putting multiple kids to bed on my own multiple times a week and just figuring it out over the last couple of years.

   Things that I stressed about with my middle, I didn’t stress about this time. For example, “what if the baby cries when I’m trying to make their dinner” “what if he needs to eat during lunch”. That never even crossed my mind this time around. #beentheredonethat

   You learn that everyone adapts, based on your experience with your transition to two kids. If the big kids have to wait longer for lunch, they will. If they go down for their nap 25 mins later, who cares. If the baby has to cry for 3 minutes while you cut up food, it’s okay. If the kids watch the ipad for an hour because you have a screaming baby and you’re on your own…its OKAY. You’ll all survive.

2. Your experience with three children can be completely different based on the temperament of your infant: NO DOUBT my life would’ve been a lot more stressful had my first been born last. Colicky, crying all the time definitely would make this journey more challenging. Samson is a pretty happy, chill baby (most of the time) which makes it easier to manage. Don’t mistake this for me saying he’s easy, because he certainly has his moments..for instance how he’s slept the last month (like crap), and how he screams nonstop in the car. So, let’s just put it this way-no infant is easy. Some are just easi-ER. And that can make things less or more stressful for sure.

3. Letting go. Let go of perfection, let go of cleanliness, let go of even self care for awhile. Embracing the season rather than fighting it makes this ride much more enjoyable. Because, at the end of the day, it’s not forever. 

4. Leaving the house takes on new life: When I go places with all 3 kids, its either we are leaving ____ (insert place) bloodied, bruised, wounded and someone is always crying. Or, like the grocery store the other day….I swear that angels were singing as we walked out, and I felt literally like SUPER MOM. haha.

   This is probably the number one thing I’ve struggled with the most and really has had me feeling frustrated and tied down because the energy I need to invest to go to simple places is CRAZY.

   Leaving the house with two seems so easy now. I think this also has been amplified by a winter that has seemed about 3 years long. Have you ever tried to get a 4 year old, a 2 year old and an infant dressed for 30 degree temperatures for 3 months straight? yes, it is torture. Also: see winter with kids ((hell)).

   But, as I say that, its always worth getting out of the house. And yes, you’ll have some days that are better than others but my advice is to start small to gain confidence. Also, don’t give any fucks about what anyone thinks. You’ll never see them again, and if they can’t respect you for getting 3 tiny humans out of the house on your own, they’re not a good person. So…there’s that.

   On a side note, I’m so looking forward to summer, where we can throw on a pair of shoes and call it a day. No gloves, hats, boots, coats, layers. No wondering where we should head to that day. The best part of summer for me, is keeping it simple. Outdoor time. Walks. Bike rides. Playground. I try to live by the saying “KISS”. “Keep it simple, stupid”. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Kids are actually really simple tiny humans and they don’t care if they go to the park 8 days in a row. End of story. 

5. Lower your standards: I’m not saying wear sweats every day of your life and leave your house a pig sty... because truth be told I actually feel more put together this time around than I did with my second. Seriously. I feel like I learned how to manage my time better after having two kids (see #1) but if you’re struggling, cut yourself a break!

6. GET HELP. End of story. You don’t get a medal, trophy or a special announcement as best mom ever for doing EVERYTHING on your own. Have family help and take the older ones places. Get a “mother’s helper” so you have time to get things done around the house. Ask family friends for help. Its worth it.

7. Plan ahead: Being ahead of the game is super important at this time for me. A lot of times I meal prep and cut up vegetables/food for dinner and put them in containers while the baby is napping in the morning or early afternoon because come 5 pm, I’m on my own with 3 kids & trying to make dinner with three kids all running around…aint nobody got time to be slicing sweet potatoes! LOL!

   My advice: think ahead for everything. Pack diaper bags while baby is sleeping or the night before, put your toddlers shoes on while he’s snacking and sitting in his high chair…you get the drift. Be ahead of the game! It will help you be more efficient at home or getting out the door!

8. YOU 👏🏼 ARE 👏🏼 ENOUGH 👏🏼 I’m a big believer in speaking light & truth into yourself. I did this a lot as a professional athlete. One of my favorite sayings (especially to athletes I coach) is “Nobody is going to believe in you more than yourself.” This is so, so true and honestly every single day I tell myself that I am enough. And yes, there are some days where I believe it more than others. BUT I do think by speaking positive to yourself, you truly can make a difference in your own attitude and self esteem. Sure, I can always strive to be a better ME. But who I am- as a woman, mother, wife, and human being complete with all my imperfections…is enough.

So is the transition to 3 hard? YES. Is it harder than the transition to 2? I guess for me it hasn’t hit me as hard as the transition to two. I was so used to focusing on only one child’s needs. Now, I’ve had the experience. Will it feel like that for everyone? Probably not. I don’t know.

But what I can tell you is that the love that my older two have for their baby brother is intoxicating.

I can tell you his smile lights the room.

I can tell you that his presence completes our family.

I can tell you the support from friends and family was and IS absolutely heart warming and overwhelming.

So, yeah, it’s hard. Every single day is a battle…. with sweet, silly, heart melting moments mixed in.

But I absolutely positively cannot imagine my life without our smily baby Samson.

xo

Alex

Motherhood: 6 Ways its Changed Me & My Mothers Day Gift Guide

Motherhood may have given us gray hairs, wrinkles, loose skin, stretch marks, and a lot of other physical side effects that we might not want (ha), BUT I know its given me SO much as a person to be thankful for. I’ve grown leaps and bounds as a human being, and I’ve no doubt become a better person because of my 3 little guys. In honor of Mothers Day next week, I’m highlighting how motherhood has changed me:

1. Showed me the purest form of love: They always say you never know love until you have a baby. Having kids is like having a piece of your heart walking outside of your body. It actually aches when they’re hurt, when you miss them, when they’re going through hard times…its an incredible feeling that you would literally do anything and everything for their well being and happiness.

2. It’s slowed me down: Gone are the days that I need to be on the go …going somewhere, doing something, being busy, never home. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but there’s something to be said about actually soaking life up and slowing down. I actually LIKE staying home or doing simple things like playing outside with the kids, long walks in the neighborhood, playground days, and trips to the library. Call me boring, but I’m cool with it. Seeing life through their eyes is the best feeling ever…how they learn, grow and experience new things is amazing.

3. I’ve become more easy going: Ok, anyone that knows me knows I am superrrr Type A. I’m all about schedules, routine, and things being perfect, and I’m UBER competitive. Well, if you’re a mom you know that living up to this is pretty much impossible if you want to maintain your sanity! It probably took me up until having 3 kids to really just embrace this, truthfully. But, proudly, I’ve learned to roll with the punches, missed naps, tantrums. crying, messy clothes & house, and tough days. Yeah, sure does it bother me sometimes? Of course. Am I still a little uptight? yes. But I am able to take a deep breath and just go with the flow ((most of the time)).

4. I’m more patient: Patience. One of the most coveted virtues there is. Becoming a parent MAKES you more patient whether you want to be or not. Dealing with babies crying for hours (my first), epic toddler tantrums (my second), or dealing with no sleep with your third baby and having 2 others to look after…yup. Patience is earned, and you don’t have a choice.

5. I don’t take things for granted as much: Little things used to bother me so much…work life, social things, etc. Now…if something happens I know that all is good because at the end of the day as long as our family is healthy we are ALL GOOD. That’s not to say I don’t get fired up every now and again (ha) but I definitely am able to take a deep breath and take things in stride A LOT better now. I don’t take a single day that our boys are healthy for granted and now thats what really matters.

6. I’m more focused and efficient: Time is your biggest enemy when you become a mother. It goes by so dang quick. Your time with them, and your time away from them. I’ve found I’ve become so much more efficient with my time now that I have kids because I want to make it count if I’m away from them. If I’m working out, its going to be a killer workout. If I’m at work or at an event, I’m going to make it worthwhile because I know what I’m giving up to be there! Time=the most precious thing in life!

So, Motherhood. Probably the most challenging, yet rewarding thing in life you’ll ever do. I know that I no doubt appreciate my mom more now that I’m a mother myself. Truth be told, there’s no way you can ever repay your mother for their sacrifice, life and commitment to you…but we sure as heck can try!

I wanted to share a few of my favorite mothers day picks for your mother, MIL, grandma, etc.

1.Dyson V8- This thing is a game changer. I know it seems like a lame gift, but this guy cleans sooo fast and when you clean faster, it means more time to do other things! WINNING.

2. Dyson Blowdryer- you guys know I’ve pledged my love for this blowdryer. Another time saver, makes your hair so soft, and is just all around amazing quality. An amazing gift to give.

3. Apple Watch-Another one of my go-tos gifts

4. Airpods- These are so good for everything- exercising, listening to podcasts, talking hands free. Great gift.

5. This crockpot is hands down the best crockpot I have ever used. the food cooks great and the food NEVER sticks to the actual dish. I can’t say enough about it. I know its pricy but the quality is amazing and the food turns out great-so much better.

6. This air fryer is a great gift. I swear I’ll never cook fries in a oven again. The air fryer takes away all the grease and makes them nice and crispy. There’s so many great recipes also to put in a air fryer.

7. Bath bombs make a great gift!

8. I have a kitchen aid mixer and although I’ve never used it (haha, I never bake) its supposedly one of the best. My mom LOVES hers.

9. If your mama or MIL is into scrapbooking, snag her a cricut! This is the best way to scrapbook!

10. You can never go wrong with a new pair of slippers. I love these.

11. Barefoot dreams is always a go-to for me for gifts. They have amazing sweaters/cardigans as well as blankets and throws that are so cozy!

12. Real Simple is a great mag to send to Mom!

13. The Vitamix is a top blender and allows you to make shakes, soups, etc.

14. My mom has a roomba and loves it! Another gift to make her life easier.

15. My holy grail product- Dr. Brandt baggage no more. TRUST ME this stuff is legit.

16. I haven’t tried Drunk Elephant but I have heard amazing things about their products. A mask would be an awesome gift idea!

17. The Clarisonic is a basic essential and makes a good present!

18. Tory Burch Miller Sandals. These can be dressed up or down and look good on a 20 year old, or a 75 year old! Iconic!

19. I love Birks more than anything in life and these are so comfy and GOOD for your feet. The gift that keeps on giving-great quality, last forever!

20. Last but not least…this is my FAVE Tula product. I swear by this and how it brightens your under eye area (hello, all moms need this!!). This is a great present for any mom, any age. If you don’t buy it for your mom, buy it for yourself!

Have a great Sunday!

xo

Alex

2 Months Postpartum: The Body

Stash Pocket Salutation Peony 7/8 Tight • Athleta • $71.99
Athleta Athleta Women's Encore Tank Top • Athleta • $33.93
Nike Pro Classic Mid-Impact Swoosh Sports Bra 842398 • Nike • $30

2 Months Postpartum: The Body

It’s been 2 months since my little guy was born. Sometimes it seems like just yesterday he was born.. but at the same time I can’t even remember life without him. Does that even make sense? 🤷🏼‍♀️

There is so much that goes into the postpartum period of having a baby. Not only adjusting to the baby, but the mental and physical side of things for YOU, the mama. Everyone provides so much support right after the baby, but when that first month is over and everyone goes back to work, and their own lives it can be HARD. You’re at home with a crying baby and it can get overwhelming especially if its your first baby. The 24/7 care can be exhausting. Combine that with hormones, breastfeeding, as well as with the physical changes that pregnancy and postpartum brings its no wonder there are so many women with the baby blues or even PPD. So little attention is brought to a woman’s mental state after pregnancy.

As you know, I write about everything…baby, mom stuff, recipes, fashion…it has super therapeutic in a way for me with this third baby. Having a baby can be isolating but this has given me an outlet when I might be otherwise cut off a little bit from society and my “regular” life.

But my favorite posts by far have tp be these body/fitness updates because even though I get frustrated on the DAILY- weighing myself, seeing an unflattering angle in the mirror, trying pre pregnancy jeans on.. the list goes on LOL... (I’m just being real with you during this postpartum phase) when I look back on my previous monthly posts, I can see that I’ve made progress. And I know there are SO MANY other women who feel the same way. And if I can see positivity & progress in my own journey, so can you.

Sometimes progress is hard to see when you’re grafting day and in and day out and things aren’t happening as fast as what you’d like. I encourage you to take progress photos and look at all of this from a “big picture” standpoint. How far you have come, rather than how far you have to go.

I know I feel inspired when I see other women work hard for things they want and I hope in a small way I can do the same for you. I’m not where I want to be yet (not even close), but I’m loving sharing the journey in depth with all of you.

Postpartum Feelings

I've been a mother for almost 5 years. To some of you, I'm still a rookie. And let me tell you, a lot of the time I sure do feel like a rookie. I think in our own way we are all newbies trying to find our way not only for our children, but for our new life as parents, caregivers. Because just when you think you've figured it out, they go and change on you again :) 

I can't tell you how many times over the last 4 1/2 years I've come across messages of "love your ____(insert either body, scars, battle wounds, mom pooch, tiger stripes, curves, stretch marks" etc. ) in social media, magazines, tv. It’s everywhere. Don't get me wrong. I love messages of positivity to uplift women whether you're a mom, a teen, or a twenty something post college graduate. But I guess a part of me has fought this message internally. And its always made me feel weird and to be honest, like an outsider when it comes to this topic. I don’t know if this message is realistic, for me anyway.

I don't love my postpartum curves. I don't love my stretch marks. I don't love my loose skin. I don't love my c- section scars. What I do love? MY SONS. My beautiful three boys. (they of course were worth every ounce of pain, sacrifice, skin sagginess, scars, and stretch marks FYI !)

If you asked me if I could have heathy children and do without the loose skin & stretch marks I wouldn't think twice. Absolutely I would take that. And I bet I'm not the only one who would -whether people want to admit it or not. Those battle scars…They’re just human.. and part of the process for some of us.

What I do is thank my pre-pregnancy body for being STRONG, fit and healthy enough to carry my babies…not my stretch marks or loose skin.

And my postpartum body? I might not love every part of it. BUT I RESPECT the HELL out it. My curves, stretch marks, loose skin and scars.

In my opinion, the most important way (and most realistic way) you can love your body is by respecting & appreciating it throughout all the crazy seasons of life us women go through.

Now…on to Month 2!

Post surgery:

This was the best recovery by far from all of my C sections. I think because my incisions opened (superficial layer, not infected or anything) the last 2 times I was really careful. In addition, I had a lot of help at night with my husband bringing baby to me in the middle of the night to nurse (not getting up out of a chair holding baby) which was #husbandgoals. Lastly, the horrible weather we had the first 4 weeks postpartum actually went in my favor because I didn’t go for walks or leave the house. Haha.

I have no issues with my incision and hopefully every day the scar will fade. Although having the scar doesn’t really phase me, to be honest. I think out of all things “postpartum” that is the thing I least care about.

Workouts

I’m getting 3-4 strength training workouts in during the week and trying to get 2-3 days of cardio in. I’m careful with my cardio; I want to be sure my body is able to handle the impact. Because of this, I’m really focusing on weights and getting stronger right now. During pregnancy I lost so much muscle- and gained a lot of extra fat so I’ve got to ease my way into it. In addition, I have about 2 cm of separation still between my abs-which I am doing DR exercises to improve.

I’ve gone on 3-4 runs and my times have already started to lower. I’m soooo far off where I used to be but I’m trying to focus on what I CAN do and not what I used to be able to do. I know I’ve done this twice before; and I can do it again if I want it bad enough.

Nutrition

To be honest, my nutrition has been better this postpartum period than it was with the other two. I’m eating less cereal/empty carbs at night and if I need a snack at night I choose Greek yogurt. During the day I’m pretty structured and disciplined. Breakfast is usually eggs with turkey bacon, eggs on its own, or chicken sausage always paired with oatmeal. Lunch is usually chicken or salmon with salad, and you have all seen my dinners throughout the week in my Monday meal plan.

Of course, I have “splurge” meals (like pizza last week saturday, for example) and I usually have a treat or two after going to the grocery shopping (I blame the “hungry me” for buying my fave love crunch granola haha)

For those that have breastfed, you know the struggle is real with nursing hunger…or HANGER. Ha. I literally CANNOT go to bed without eating something because I’ll wake in the night hungry.

I definitely don’t portion out my meals too much, I would say breakfast and lunch I know pretty much the macros I’m eating but dinner and before bed all bets are off. For me, maintaining my supply is most important and if it takes me 3 months longer to achieve what I want, then so be it.

Weight/ body image

My clothes are definitely fitting better but I would say 70% of my closet doesn’t fit, or it doesn’t fit comfortably/ the way I want it to. Which is super frustrating, but it is what it is. I’ve accepted it, respect it and I’m going to keep showing up like a bad penny at the gym getting after it.

I’ve also bought 2 new pairs of jeans because I’m not putting some ridiculous pressure on how fast “i bounce back”. Some of my pants are going to take about 6 MONTHS to fit back into, and thats just reality. You don’t get a medal, a trophy or anything special for fitting into your jeans quicker! I’ll get there and I know from my other two babies it takes time. A lot of time. Like over a year. And it takes sweat. Discipline. And of all things, consistency.

Weight wise the scale hasn’t budged in about 4 weeks. It has. not. budged. a. single. pound.

4 weeks of being intentional about walking (the first 2 weeks. Working out the last 2 weeks, 5 days a week.

4 weeks of intentional, healthy eating.

So, basically, I’m still 15-ish lbs above pre-pregnancy weight.

Frustration is an understatement.

I found with my other two babies I was able to lose a majority of the weight (over a 12 month period-let’s be clear!!) but I coulden’t get as lean/lose the last 3-4 lbs until I stopped nursing. Whether that was hormones, or my hunger, I’m not sure. We will see this time around! Everyone’s body is different and reacts a different way to nursing.

So, if you’re in the same season as me (this awkward postpartum phase), know that taking small victories like FEELING good, fitting into pants better, having more energy, being able to lift a heavier weight, or running faster/longer means far more than the scale anyway.

And as those small victories keep piling up ….you’ll see movement in the scale. Because that’s really how it works.

End of Story.

xo

Alex

2 Months: All about Baby, Sleep & Routine

Happy Tuesday everyone & Happy 2 months to our little babe! This is the best part of the “fourth trimester” for sure…once you hit month 2 everything starts to get better ((a little)) every day! You’ll always have “good” and “bad” days but things are on the up and up moving forward. 2 months signals baby’s first smile, a few giggles (soon!), more interaction, more sleep AT NIGHT and LESS CRYING y’all. #winning

Samson really has settled in the last 2-3 weeks. Weeks 3-6 were hard. Like really hard, not gonna lie. But once we got past that, our little guy is as happy as can be, sleeping longer at night, growing like a champ, and gave us our first smiles. He seems to be pretty laid back, even through the dreaded “witching hours” that haunt me from Max’s early days (and even Seb would get pretty fussy). He still catnaps through that time period (or doesn’t nap at all) but he isn’t THAT fussy so I’m thankful for that!

Routine & SLEEP

I wanted to share what routine Sammy is on. Everyone is different; some people might think what we do is quite “rigid” and have baby on no schedule; while others need more structure than what we do. I try to be somewhere in the middle realizing we have other kids and I can’t sit around the house all day catering to his naps-Especially when I’m on my own on weekends/nights and the kids want to get out of the house ((also for my sanity lol!)

I know there are all kinds of books “getting baby on schedule” like Moms on Call, etc. but for me forcing baby to wake at certain times of day at only 8 weeks is hard. I also think with older kids its hard to have such structured times for naps when you have preschool pickups, or have to get out with the other kids activities. In addition, Sammy usually does a 4-7 hour sleeping chunk at night (which is great for a 2 month old) so I don’t really think I have the need to change anything right now!

I am reading “Moms on Call” however for other sleeping tips though and just for ideas so if you ARE looking for some more structure and just help in general I would recommend that book for sure.

Currently Sammy is on an Eat, Play, Sleep schedule. He honestly settled into that on his own and its worked really well. My two others were the opposite where they nursed before they napped. I tried to incorporate that schedule with Max & Seb but it just never worked with them and sometimes you just have to listen to baby! I do like the Eat, play, sleep schedule because he won’t be associating sleep with nursing (and me, for that matter) and me nursing him before naps when he gets older (bc tbh I love nursing them to sleep :) ) will be on MY terms, not because he needs it to fall asleep!

Sammy is different; he self soothes A LOT better than my other boys which I think helps. I’ve also been trying to be mindful of letting him TRY to self soothe before rushing to get him during a nap or during the night. What’s helped me a ton is the book “Bringing Up Bebe” and what the French call the “pause” where they wait and observe their child rather than pick them up right when they make a sound.

“When a French baby cries in the night, the parents go in, pause, and observe for a few minutes," Druckerman explains. “They know that babies' sleep patterns include movements, noises, and two-hour sleep cycles, in between which the baby might cry. Left alone it might 'self-soothe' and go back to sleep."

Let me be clear in saying that this is not cry it out by any means; its just simply observing and allowing baby the opportunity to self soothe. If he doesn’t, I intervene.

We have him on a one hour- 75 min wake schedule. So basically that means when he wakes up, he has generally one hour of awake time before he has another nap. His wake times I base off of research on wake times and ultimately how long he is able to stay happy for awake time. He eats, sits in his bouncy chair, plays on his activity mat, does some tummy time and when he starts to get fussy/and or hits an hour (usually they tend to coincide) we head upstairs. He naps in his swing currently. I would love to wean him off of that but I’m not sure that will happen anytime soon! He usually takes around 4 naps a day and sometimes (like Saturday) they are horrible cat naps…then other days he has longer naps (90 min-2.5 hours). Erratic naps are still normal at this age so I’m not super worried about it. Generally the morning naps are better and longer; later in the day they are shorter (30-45 mins!).

Bedtime is usually between 7:30-8:45pm. Sometimes he goes down really easy and puts himself to sleep after making noise/whining for a little bit. Sometimes he does full on cry for a couple minutes; usually I wait it out to see if he can overcome it himself. After 3-4 mins I usually go up to soothe him. Then there’s other nights I have to put him down when he is fully asleep..meaning I wait the dreaded 15-20 mins waiting for him to go into his “deep sleep” so he doesn’t wake up right when I set him down because he’s just not able to soothe himself. And thats totally okay, especially because he’s still so little and we all have bad days #amirite??!! I have been working really hard at the “self soothing” though because in order for baby to sleep well, they have to know how to put themselves back to sleep. So this is pretty much #1 on my list of things to conquer.

Last night I had all 3 kids for bedtime….so let’s talk about that. Ha. I’ve had them on my own for bedtime on my own probably 8 times now. Every night is different because Samson still doesn’t have a “set” bedtime so I never know how its going to go!

But last night went SO WELL. Do you ever have those nights that everything goes well and you can’t. even. believe. it. Like am I the BEST MOM EVER?!! haha. ((and then the next day is a complete shit show!) But anyway, I got the baby down ((the boys had a snack and watched a Disney movie)) and the Routine was as follows:

Lullaby on (I have an app on my phone)
Draw blinds, etc
Massage with lotion, Change into jammies, wash face
Turn Lullaby off, nurse one side
Turn white noise on & swaddle (this is the swaddle we use, I love it because it doesn’t ride up around his face)
Feed other side
Put down awake

This whole process took 30 mins.
I put him down fully awake and he made a few noises but went to sleep on his own! And I was able to give the older two full attention after 7:30 pm and put them to bed without a screaming baby in the other room. Like I said, this doesn’t always go this way, but I sure felt like a ROCKSTAR last night. lol. He did wake up after his first sleep cycle and cry out, but it was for about a minute and he went back to sleep on his own.

And if you are reading this, and your baby is the same age as mine/older, screams every time you try to put them down, and NEVER self soothes, PLEASE DON’T COMPARE. Like I said, my oldest I never could have even attempted to put him down “drowsy but awake” this early on. Every baby is different and getting them to learn how to sleep is HARD. They all do it on their own time and you just have to listen to them and see what they are ready for. Listen to your momma instinct!

Last week Samson had a little cold so I had him sleeping in the rock and play to keep him elevated. He seems to really like sleeping on the angle and had his best sleeps in there. Nighttime sleep in the Rock and Play the last week has been AMAZING so this is why I’m resisting moving him from there. Do you blame me?? He has been doing 6-8 hour stretches at night. So basically he goes down at 7:30/8:30ish and then sleeps through til 2 or 3 am. Last week he even did a 8:45 pm-4:30 am. #GOALS.

Before he was sick he was sleeping in the dock-a-tot and was doing one 4-5 hour shift right when he went to sleep. I’m working on getting him in the crib without the dock-a-tot but it didn’t go so well saturday night. I’m not sure if its because he was so overtired from the short naps he had so I’ll keep persevering.

And don’t get me wrong-sometimes after his “long” stretch of sleep (the 5-7 hour window) he might get up every 2 hours after so some nights are harder for me than others!! Especially if he goes to bed earlier (like 7:30/7:45) and then he’s sleeping 7:30-2 am, and then up again at 4, and 6 am. Ick.

I’ll keep you all posted on how this progresses and anything I can pass along to you!

Breastfeeding

Nursing is going great. He weighs more than 13 lbs (in the 90th percentile for weight lol) so he is eating so well. Nursing sessions have cut down in time for sure which is great. I’m still leaking like crazy and getting engorged (especially at night) but I’m sure that will level off in the next 4-6 weeks.

I recently got the Willow pump in the mail and I’ll be trying that out and reviewing it here on the blog! For those that don’t know what it is, it is a wireless and cordless pumping system. It is also very quiet and you can pump on the go-while you’re playing with other kids, driving, while you cook, and you can even lay down pumping!

I do try and do one extra pump a day to stockpile milk; in addition to what Samson drinks we put my breastmilk in my older sons oatmeal (shh don’t tell!!). My middle boy also sometimes likes to drink it still out of a cup! I usually do this pump earlier in the day (morning) and pump only my right side. This side produces more milk for the pump; then I just feed on the other side because I know baby can get what he needs from there because they are more adept at pulling milk while breastfeeding than the pump is.

Milestones & Personality

Like I said before, Sammy is pretty chill. He loves to sit in his bouncy chair and look around and could honestly sit there for a good 15 minutes without a peep! He loves looking out the window, and likes taking walks. He doesn’t love car rides but is definitely getting a little bit better with it! He started smiling about 2 weeks ago (around 6/7 weeks). He kicks his legs fast when we speak to him and its so fun to see his reactions! I can’t wait for that first little giggle. He is also starting to enjoy his bathtime more and more & when he’s on his activity mat he sees everything so much more clear. Looking forward to when he is able to fully hold his head up and jump in the jolly jumper!

Brothers

The boys are honestly so awesome with him. I only worry about Seb because he is only 2 and doesn’t fully understand that he could really hurt the baby. But every single day they talk about Samson and tell me “he’s my best friend” ummm. HEART MELTED. Makes all the long nights and hard days worthwhile! Max is actually a pretty good little helper if I need something too!!

It’s going to be a little crazy no doubt trying to find a routine with all three boys but I think the biggest thing you learn after going with one to two kids is to just ROLL with it! So that’s what I’m doing…

2 month favorites

Here are our favorite 2 month baby favorites!

1.We’ve started to put Sammy in the bumbo for short increments! Its great for when you start solids and just somewhere “new” to put baby when you have to make dinner or tend to something else.

2. We love Mortimer the moose toy!

3. This baby einstein toy was a fave of our older two and plays fun music to catch their attention!

4. More toys

5. The shusher- amazing for on the go soothing!

6. This is a great early sit up seat for baby when they are young! Especially when you have other kids…keeps them entertained but still supports them!

7. The Mommy hook- but with a phone charger on it!!

8. Fun jungle gym that has a fun area for them to kick!

9. LOVE these mickey onesies!!

10. Baby towels from PB

11. Rattles

12. I want to get this portable sound machine!

13. Dock a tot that he loved sleeping/lounging in

14. The must have boppy for breastfeeding mamas

15. The rainforest play mat that we have had for all 3 kids!

16. Swing= LIFESAVER

17. The bouncer we have that he hangs out in

18. The best stroller IN ALL THE LAND. HANDS DOWN!!!

19. Lastly…how adorbs is this bunny onesie for Easter!!!?

Bumbo Floor Seat in Blue • Bumbo • $44.99
Lamaze Mortimer The Moose Plush Toy • Lamaze • $14.99
Baby Einstein Take-Along Tunes • Baby Einstein • $9.99
Baby Einstein Discover and Play Gift Set • Baby Einstein • $24.99
Baby Shusher: The Sleep Miracle • $34.99
Fisher Price Fisher-Price Deluxe Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat • Fisher-Price • $47.99
Mommy Power Stroller Hook • $39.99
Fisher-Price 2-in-1 Flip & Fun Activity Gym • Fisher-Price • $22.97
babyGap | Disney Mickey Mouse Bodysuit (3-Pack) • Gap • $19.99
Pig Nursery Bath Wrap, Pink • Pottery Barn Kids • $22.99–39.50
Fisher Price Fisher-Price Rattle 'n Rock Maracas • Fisher-Price • $6.29
Vtech VTech Myla the Monkey Portable Safe & Sound Storytelling Soother with Night Light in White • Vtech • $19.99
DockATot Deluxe+ Stage 1 Dock • $185–195
Boppy& Luxe Pillow with Reversible Slipcover in Elephant • Boppy • $49.99
Fisher Price Fisher-Price& Rainforest Music and Lights Deluxe Gym • Fisher-Price • $59.99
Fisher Price Fisher-Price Cradle 'n Swing in Safari Dreams • Fisher-Price • $164.99
My Little Snugapuppy Deluxe Bouncer • $39.99
Baby Jogger 2017 City Select Stroller in Black/Grey • Baby Jogger • $529.99
Bunny Sweater One-Piece • Gap • $39.95

Have a great Monday! xo

Alex

3 weeks Postpartum Thoughts & My #1 PP Must Have

Happy Thursday everyone!

Hope you all are having a good week and enjoyed the warm up we had at the beginning of the week! It def gave me spring fever 🌸 🌺 ☀️ It also made me totally want to book a getaway ASAP!! 🏝 LOL

Hopping on to give a lil update on 3 weeks postpartum and some of my Postpartum must haves...

3 weeks postpartum

I remember the days going by so slowly postpartum with both of my first two kids, but I feel like this time it’s flying by. Maybe because I have two other guys to look after? I’m not sure but it sure is going by fast. 

The newborn honeymoon phase is clearly over at this point and it’s GAME ON. I know sooo many people who are like “newborns are so easy”. I think they may be on some sort of drugs or .. they had a super easy baby. I prefer toddler phase SO SO much more. Probably because 99% of night waking is my responsibility ((nursing))so home girl is tired AF. So let’s get to it...

Sammy 

Our big guy loves cuddles, milk, and being warm. Tolerates tummy time better than my other two ever did, and likes the bottle definitely less than the others. Hates to be swaddled (wants his arms free) and is the only one of my kids who actually likes to baby wear! All in all, he’s growing, healthy and we coulden’t be more blessed. truly. ((even with the lack of sleep lol))

SLEEP 

Sleep was actually going okay. At first I was getting 2-3 hour stretches at night. Bedtime is all over the show ((which is normal I guess)) and the last week was pretty rough. There were 2-3 nights where he was up 11 pm-1:30 am and then up every 90 min after- which is brutal considering my other kids are up at 6:30/7 am. Last night I resigned to the fact that I needed to go to bed when my older two hit the sack around 8 pm and that’s what I did. So I was able to get two 3 hour stretches of sleep and then once we hit 2 am he was up every hour or 90 mins. I was so happy he wasn’t up for the happy hour at 11 pm! 

How am I managing it? Some days are better than others. Most days I’m okay... but tbh yesterday I felt completely defeated.

Like...I’m never going to sleep again or get anything done ever again??!!. Before I had Sammy, I was usually up before 6 am to get myself ready, work out, emails, work on stuff for our business, blog, etc. Now that’s clearly not going to happen and it’s driving me crazy. It was my “time” to be productive and going to bed at 8 or 9 pm also means I get ... nothing done at night. Ugh. 

I’m not much of napper but I have forced myself to when I have help. I also remind myself 55 times a night on how fast this will go, and how my little guy is so used to being with me 24-7 and that he needs me. His mama ❤️.

Also, caffeine helps. Lol. A lot. Gimme allll of the spark. 

Breastfeeding

All of the pains of the first couple of weeks have subsided including sore nipples, massive engorgement, super leaky boobs, etc. and we’ve settled into a pretty good routine. 

Sammy only has taken the bottle 2 or 3 times; he’s not a huge fan which is okay for me now anyway because I’m with him so much and not working atm other than doing some things remotely at home and a meeting or two every week that I need to head in to the office for.

He’s gaining weight really well and I’m so grateful for my body and ability to nurse him. I’m definitely going to write up a breastfeeding post to share with y’all including tips, things I wish I would have known, and my favorite nursing friendly clothing!! 

Body

I did a big post on this last week. In the past week, I’ve started to walk a little bit weather permitting. My incision feels better and better and no signs of any issues there.

Also ...true story ....after my first walk my abs were sore! Haha! I don’t force the walking though- if the weather is crappy (like today) I just roll with it!

I’m not going to lie that I don’t feel a little frustrated - I weighed myself yesterday for the first time in a week and I haven’t lost a single ounce. So, I’m still up about 18-30 lbs. 

On top of that I ((stupidly)) tried on a pair of my normal size jeans and couldn’t get them over my thighs. On the same day that I weighed myself #ROOKIEMISTAKE lol.

Literally cried for the first time since having the baby. Not sure why I decided to do both of those things in one day 🤦🏼‍♀️Anyway, I have soooo much work to go to get back where I was and I’m definitely feeling down about that. 

It’s actually FUNNY to me typing that. I mean, I did just birth a 8 lb human 3 weeks ago….I guess patience and grace is an area that I need to work on lol. Also I’m not even walking consistently so I’m not sure why i think my body should be back to the way it is. I guess its just been a reality check and thats been a tough pill for me to swallow about the work and grind I’m gonna have to put in starting at 6 or 7 weeks PP. I’m mentally gearing up for it though and ready for the challenge.

I’m definitely going to do a “body image” post sometime soon because its something I’m really passionate about and I have sooo many thoughts about the “body positivity” movement!

Brothers 

The boys have adjusted really well ((so far)) actually. Max is definitely more interested in his baby brother and is pretty helpful!! but Seb loves him as well. Managing all three at one time on my own is a bit of a circus. I resort to a little more TV time than I would normally especially because I have to nurse so much ... and baby wearing 🤷🏼‍♀️when I have to. Newborns DO sleep a lot which helps, and my boys are in school (Seb twice a week, Max 4 times) so the mornings are easier. Early afternoons are okay because both older boys nap so its pretty much the 3-6 pm time slot and I mostly have help for now.

Tuesday night I was on my own with all three boys for bedtime. Luckily the baby napped the hour leading into their bedtime so all was good 🙌🏼I’m looking forward to a month or so from now where I can start to have a routine for the baby (or at least a ball park scheduled bedtime) and it will give us a little more structure. 

Postpartum Must- haves

I thought I’d share a few things that have been crucial to the bane of my existence for the past 3 weeks! These are great for postpartum…but also just COZY and COMFY wear for those on the lookout!!

-My #1 PP Item- The belly bandit. I wear this thing 24-7. Helps me keep my core stable, gives me support, and helps with reducing size of my tummy post baby. Cannot recommend this enough!!!

-Barefoot dreams cardigan. Wearing a sweater at times can be cumbersome when you nurse 10 times a day lol! these are soo warm and easy to wear.

-Another barefoot cardi

-Barefoot socks….wore around house or out and about with boots!

-I wear these C-panties day and night to help protect my incision! A must for C Section mamas.

-Cannot live without my boppy for breastfeeding.

-I wear joggers around the house alllll day. Love these joggers from Loft. Honestly they are like a soft blanket!

-My Dylan joggers from Anthro are on mega sale. Great if you’re pregnant, not pregnant or PP. Come in tons of colors!

-When I actually have to look presentable I wear the Align legging from lulu (high waisted and suck it all in) or the Zella legging!!

-Can’t say enough about these Wit and Wisdom jeans. Elastic on jeans? yesssssss.

-BP t shirts- easy to nurse in and great for layering. ( i sized up for PP life) I have these in solid and striped. Wearin them all day everyday. Also. $10. Add to cart.

-The january tee is an easy postpartum option made by Free People!

Have a great day

xo alex

Week 1 Postpartum & 10 Hacks to surviving the first week PP

My outfit: Free People top | Zella Legging | New Balance sneaks

Hey friends!!

Happy Hump day…although for me right now it seems like groundhog day lol. Allll of the days meld together and I don’t even have a day or night haha #postpartumlife

We welcomed Samson Alexander on January 16, 2019 💙💙we are so over the moon and BLESSED beyond belief

Wanted to give you an update and a few postpartum hacks for every new mama! Below is a few items I have been LIVING in this week cause just give me all the comfiessss.

Barefoot dreams socks- so comfy while the weather has been so cold ||| Barefoot Dreams Cardigan ||| Barefoot Dreams Cardigan || Graphic Tees | Loft Sweats literally the softest things I’ve had on my body!! || Ugg slippers ||

Update:

Birth

Everything went smooth during the surgery. We were scheduled for a 7:30 am, but it went a few minutes late. My spinal worked great and I was actually the most calm I’d been during any of the 3 of my C Sections. I did have some pain when they were taking Sammy out but other than that I felt fine. He had some problems breathing so the first 24 hours was pretty stressful but we got through it! I had a rough 24 hours post surgery, nauseous and throwing up (this didn’t happen with my other two kids)…honestly I felt HORRIBLE. I could hardly open my eyes I feel like…and combine that with trying to nurse your baby, etc. made for a tough day. More about the birth later….

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is going really well other than the fact that I feel like my boobs are the size of Texas and that someone is stabbing me with a knife in the nipple the first 30 seconds after latching… LOL. Its actually not funny though. Its so weird how I’ve nursed for over 2 years total with my other boys and my nipples are so sore still? Like why? It should be one of those things where it hurts the first time and then the next couple times you’ve paid your dues and you’re good- no pain. haha. Actually the whole child birth thing should be like that…who’s with me??!

Its always so crazy “learning” how to breastfeed again. I say “learning” because every baby is different and I feel like you almost forget how to breastfeed a newborn after a couple years. Older babies and toddlers are so different because they have the head control and know how to latch on their own so easily.

Breastfeeding a newborn is tough because you literally have to hold their head in place, and help them latch on and it can almost feel like you need an 7 arms to try and work through those first few feeds. Luckily Sammy caught on after the first day and has been doing great ever since. I definitely think the worst part of the first few days of breastfeeding is getting to know your baby and helping them learn how to eat…but also the engorgement ((and painful nipples!!).

I noticed for sure that the engorgement process got worse each time with each kid. With my second I was in a ton of pain and could hardly sleep when my milk came in…and with baby Samson even more so. I’ve finally JUST come through it and I’m so happy lol. They were rock hard and so sore for 4 days straight. Luckily, they gave me a hand pump at the hospital which helped a little, and this time around I was able to use my pump at home and that helped relieve a little bit. For some reason NOTHING would come out when I tried to express milk with Seb and I just had to keep nursing, and icing and it finally just worked itself out. I have about 30 ounces of milk already in my fridge ((um yes total oversupply over here lol) so I’m off to a good start. Its hard because I don’t want to pump too much; but at the same time I need relief!!
Sammy has already hit his birth weight 6 days after birth and I am so grateful for that! Our bodies really are amazing.

Home

The transition home was pretty seamless, mostly because my older two were still with their grandparents (Thank god!!) .

I stayed an extra day in the hospital- I’m so glad I did. I always get anxious when I get home and can’t take care of things myself. The first night home with Max is one my husband and I will legit never forget LOL. I don’t think we slept more than an hour. he honestly didn’t sleep AT ALL his first night home (haha this should have been foreshadowing for his first 8 months) and all he did was cry.

Seb didn’t sleep great on his first night home, but did ok. Sammy, the same. We were just grateful to settle him in and have some quiet time before the others came home! The boys just got home sunday so we are just trying to transition into 2 kids to 3!! It definitely is a lot louder with them home haha.

My biggest challenge is going to be getting rest and recovery but still carving out time for my two older boys. Also, our oldest is up super early ((like 6 am…ouch)) so there won’t be any sleeping in if I’ve been up all night with the baby. I think I’m going t o be permanantly exhausted the next year…but I guess you have done it twice so you kind of know what to expect. I also feel like right now I’m sleeping better than I was when I was pregnant ha! I had the worst insomnia and was so uncomfortable.

Recovery/Body

After the first initial few days, I am definitely feeling a lot better. I am still trying to sit/lay as much as I can to minimize movement with my incision and am avoiding stairs where I can. I haven’t really needed much pain medication since I came home which is great. Its a slow process but I keep reminding myself that every day I will feel 5% better. I came home from the hospital only dropping 8 pounds (like WHAT lol!!??Thats it?>)

I know from experience a lot of that is fluid retention(let the night sweats begin lol) so I’m trying to not read into it and give it time. My stomach is ((slowly)) going down and I know thats just a process!! I didn’t weigh myself the last 2 days (its been like a circus around here lol) but 5 days PP I was down 13 pounds/out of 35 total gained.

I wanted to share some advice/few of my Postpartum Hacks for surviving the first week postpartum cause it can be rough, yall!

1. Stool softener.: Ok peeps, if this your first kid this is a must have. Just thinking about going #2 PP is enough to make you cringe regardless of how that baby came out. This is my third time around so I knew to ask for it but they did not readily give it to me this time around (not sure why I had to ask) but it helps SOOOO much. Plz take it!

2. Nipple Cream: another must have for any breastfeeding mom. This has been a savior for me…it keeps your nipples hydrated when they get so irritated in the initial phases of breastfeeding.

3. Hospital Stay: I always recommend to people to stay in the hospital as long as you can. Yeah, I know there’s always people coming in your room checking on you, taking your vitals, etc. but BELIEVE me. Stay there as long as you can. Everything is at your finger tips. The second you get home you are instantly more active and have to be more mobile. I stayed in the hospital the full 3 1/2 days this time around and it was 100% better than the previous 2 deliveries.

4. Preparation is key: I can’t stress prep work enough!! Washing babies clothes, blankets, having a nursing station set up, baby items all set up, having items you need for postpartum life readily accessible (like clothes you’ll be wearing). I tried to get as much food prep in as I could too! As the female…you know where everything is so having it set up before hand so your hubby/SO doesn’t have to search for it is super important!

5. Ice Packs will be your BFF: Ice packs for everywhereeeeee. Down there, and for your boobs. Trust me. The best ones are the small kiddie ones from like the dollar store.

6. Belly Bandit: Get a belly bandit. I can’t say enough about this product and giving you support after you have baby…also it helps (I think) shrink the area and keeps your core “all together” and flattens it. Your core went through soooo much so its important to help it those first few weeks/2 months.

7. Rotate activity with rest: This is one I have a hard time with because when I’m home I just want to go, go, go regardless of how little sleep I get! I try to get 20-30 mins of activity (if baby is sleeping) and then the same ratio in rest time-ie. napping, sitting, reading, checking emails..just resting.

8. Take a shower everyday: Before I had my first, I heard these horror stories about people not showering for days so I always made it a priority for myself to shower every day. no matter what. It always made me feel more put together even if my life was a shit show! And my first was horrible - cried all the time-and I had zero help (as in was on my own with him about 8-10 hours per day every day) but I always showered. Self care people.

9. Take items from your hospital room: Use the products at the hospital as a resource and bring them home with you to make your transition home easier. Pads, granny panties, diapers, vaseline…bring it home!!

10. This is a season: Remember that honestly this is a season. things are going to be crazy, chaotic, frustrating, overwhelming…just remember that babies don’t keep. and that this too shall pass…!!!

Haven’t e a great wednesday loves!

xo

Alex

Peanut Butter Blondie's Maternity Favorites!

34 weeks with baby 3! Happy Saturday everyone!

This post has been on the back of my mind for weeks now and I wanted to get it out this week! I had another post planned as well (holiday dress wear) for those of you still looking for your Christmas outfits but I’ll try to get that one up by early next week.

Things have been crazy with my boys being sick, especially my youngest with an ear infection. I’m a little behind on here, and I’ve got boat loads of wrapping to do! Yikes! I think we are on the mend finally, once we got some meds he has been feeling sooo much better thank god! There is nothing worse than sick little babies :(

Anyway, obviously I have been pregnant three times so I have had a lot of time for trial and error on maternity fashion and what feels and looks good. I also love to look good, but also be comfortable! Especially because with my last 2 pregnancies I have been running after other kids , and even my first I was doing a ton of coaching through the whole pregnancy!

There have been so many things that I have either ordered and hated, or wore a couple times, and realized after wear that it didn’t work (ie. fell down, too much pressure on stomach, stretched out, etc.) and I don’t want you all to make the same mistake!!

SO. I have made a huge list of all my maternity faves. I have tried to mix winter and summer stuff in here but that is hard because its the dead of winter! LOL. Also…a lot of this stuff is neutrals…so sorry if it is boring colors lol…I build around it with accessories, oversized sweaters, tunics, cardigans, etc because you’re only pregnant for so long so you don’t want to completely buy a ton! ALSO…these can be GREAT gifts if you have a loved one who is newly pregnant!! Trust me, giving the Zella Leggings is like the GOLDEN ticket for a pregnant mama!!

I also plan on doing a blog post on some of my favorite transitional pieces which are great for first trimester (and even second if you are carrying small or a first time mom). These pieces generally are also perfect for that transitional postpartum period when you’re not back to your normal size but want to feel good and wear regular (not maternity) clothing!! These are all clothes I would wear even if I wasn’t pregnant and most were already in my closet anyway!

I plan on doing a post potentially next week or over Christmas on my favorite workout gear while pregnant so I will have a few more options on different items then! I hope this helps you pregnant mamas….!!xo

……Talking My Favorites…..

1. My number 1 on the list has to be the Maternity Zella Leggings. I wear these basically every day. Amazing quality, can be dressed up or down, they are the BEST. Hands down, the number one item I can’t live without. These fit TTS, select your pre-pregnancy size.

2. Second thing I wear the most is the Pure Body Tees/Long sleeve tees. I wear these under sweaters, coats, to run in, perfect for layering. They are cotton, super comfy and cheap when you get them on sale. Must have. (Gap always has 30-50% off sales!)

3. Same as above but long sleeve option!

4. Finding jeans can be tough. I’ve found that I like the old navy rockstar ones the best. I’ve honestly tried every designer brand and I like these the best! Like Gap, they have good sales so get them on sale (I believe right now these are on sale too!) These don’t fall down too much, are comfy and look good. Note that the dark wash of these run a little smaller. I got the second smallest size for reference.

5. Spanx faux leather leggings maternity! f-these are great to head out to dinner or dress up your every day outfit. I did find they slipped a little but I think I needed to size down to the XS. They look amazing though and are definitely comfortable and you can move in them.

6. I love these fleeces They are great to and from the gym or even just at home. I used them also to run in. Run TTS.

7. Love me some overalls! TTS and super cute…as seen in my photo!!

8. Distressed overalls…comfy and so cute! Can transition from winter to spring, can be worn in summer or fall and a warmer winter day!!

9. I didn’t love the blue wash of the madewell maternity jeans, but I loved the black ones. I lived in them in Paris. Great color, super comfy. TTS to madewell brand (which usually runs a little big)

10. This is a great non maternity dress that you can wear through all stages of pregnancy and AFTER. Its a flattering fit. Not pregnant I usually size up to a S, and when pregnant M. Its on sale right now as well and comes in tons of colors! Here is the tank version!

11. My favorite maternity workout tank

12. Cutest suit

13. This vest is great for layering during fall/winter/spring! I have this in black.

14. Cozy sweater and great fit and price ! Comes in tons of colors.

15. Cutest tee!

16. Joggers are my Go-to. These always sell out!

17. This is for sure my favorite sports bra to wear when I’m pregnant for high impact activities- running, etc. It keeps your girls in place and it also has straps for nursing so when you have the baby you can wear this as well. It is definitely harder to get on but for me its totally worth it because my chest size increases like 3 times when pregnant and nursing so I need the tight support!

18. My winter jacket-

Congrats and let me know if you have any questions about anything!

xo

Alex

Fast & Easy Family Friendly Recipe: Turkey Pepperoni Chicken

Recipe: Pepperoni Chicken

I wanted to hop on and share a quick recipe that our whole family enjoys…I know how it can be a struggle to make only one meal (thats somewhat healthy!) for the whole family, especially with toddlers/kids in tow!

For this meal, our boys love the pepperoni and they LOVE pasta. My oldest son loves this meal and requested it for his birthday!

I put a healthier, lower carb spin on it for my husband and I with the zucchini noodles, but you can totally make yours with pasta.

This meal is kind of like pizza…minus the carbs and packs a mean protein punch with a little zing with the pepperoni. I usually get this in the oven, and steam so veggies and I’m good to go! You could even make this ahead of time and throw it in the fridge in the morning, and when you’re ready to cook or get home from work, just put in the oven and you’re good to go. I’ll definitely be using this trick when baby 3 comes along because…#witchinghour !!!!

Pepperoni Chicken

Ingredients:

Turkey Pepperoni Slices
Breadcrumbs of your choice (1/4 or 1/2 cup)
1 egg, mixed
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Chicken (I use cutlets, if i happen to use breasts I slice and pound them so they cook faster)
Motzarella Cheese
Pasta of your choice (you can subsitute zucchini noodles)
Red jarred sauce (any kind you like, I happened to use Chefs)

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Put parchment paper on cookie sheet or pyrex dish ( I always use parchment paper, the breading never sticks to it!)

2. Slice/Pound the chicken if needed. Crack the egg in a medium sized bowl, beat.

3. Pour breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese in a different bigger size plate or dish.

4. Dip Chicken in egg, then in breadcrumb and cheese mixture, coating.

5. Place on baking sheet and continue until all chicken is on sheet. Put in oven.

6. Cook for 25-30 mins, flipping halfway. (at the halfway point I throw my veggies in the steamer and cook my zucchini noodles & pasta)

7. The last 5 minutes, pull out of oven and place pepperoni on chicken breast. I usually do 3-4. Sprinkle cheese over. Place back in oven for 3-5 more minutes. (If you like it crunchy you can broil it!)

8. Warm the sauce, and drizzle it on the chicken and/or pasta. My boys don’t really have the red sauce but I do!

9. Enjoy!

   
   Have a great day!
   xo Alex
   

Friday Flow: 17 weeks & Our Go-to Recipe

Happy FRIDAY y'all! Hope this week has flown by for you and you have some fun weekend plans! I'm sharing a few random things today...Pregnancy, my thoughts on the post baby #2 photo shoot (and some advice!), and an AWESOME recipe thats been a go-to this summer for us! Let's get to it!  

17 weeks Pregnant

No news is good news, right??! I don't have anything to report over here, except that I've had a great week of working out, moving and being active. I also had pizza twice. lol. hey, its called #balance.

Workouts: I'm still able to hover around 8:30 splits when I run, and am doing very low, low box jumps lifting wise ((those will probs end very very soon)). Everything is pretty much fair game in the weight room except I've started to put some of my upper body lifting exercises (benching, free weights) on an incline.

Sleeping has been hit or miss. Some nights I'm really restless and then I think it catches up to me and I sleep like a log after a few nights of average sleep. It's crazy how much bigger I am with this baby than the first 2, I feel like I was hardly showing with my first at this point in time!! I guess thats called muscle memory ha.  I've had some heartburn and I'm still squeezing into my "postpartum" regular jean shorts (a size or two bigger than I was when I got pregnant).

I am actually really looking forward to some cooler temps in September and LESS humidity. MY RINGS have been a serious issue! Its been so humid I feel like my fingers are already swollen! EEEK! Some days I have been going without which honestly makes me feel naked. Ugh. I'm kind of like..this is happening already? Really? I haven't even hit 20 weeks. ha. 

Also, last but not least, YES I have felt the baby move :) 

Names- we have no idea. Naming a third baby in the same sex is pretty difficult!!
Any suggestions??! 

Weight wise I'm still hovering around 11 or 12 lb weight gain! 

Photo Shoot

So..truth be told I'm gonna be blitzing your timeline on insta over the next month or so with my shoot that I did when I was about 6 weeks pregnant. Even though I was already pregnant...I am so dang PROUD of the photos (and thanks to my girl Kristy for her awesome work during the shoot). Its funny how in the moment you're always criticizing yourself and thinking "I'm not enough"...but I look back on the photos and I feel this overwhelming sense of pride- for achieving a goal, for getting a piece of me back ((even if it was for only a month or so lol)), for following through with something I wanted to so badly, for the sacrifice and discipline. For fighting through the moments of doubt, moments of hard, hard mommin'. Moments of looking at myself and not even recognizing who that was in the mirror, but believing if I persisted it would lead me to my goal. 

So...this is just a reminder to all of us-its HUMAN NATURE to always want more. Of course I could be more "fit" looking in those photos. And now, My baby bump could be smaller and so could my ass. But its OKAY. I am enough...and so are you. And if you have that yearning for more...go for it. But still respect the hell out of yourself and your body in your current state! 

 

Recipe: Ground Turkey Fajita Bowl

Okay..even though my nutrition has been not quite as disciplined as I normally would be, I am still loving some healthy meals and wanted to share this awesome meal that is not only healthy, but EASY and FAST!! This has been on our weekly meal plan every. single. dang. week. 

Things I love about this recipe- awesome flavor, quick and easy, no cutting of meat (ground turkey #ftw!!), you can buy most of these ingredients pre-cut if you don't have time to prepare (or lets be honest don't feel like it ha) , its lower carb, and you don't need to know how to cook to make this!! 

Ingredients:

Green, Orange, Yellow Pepper Sliced
1 small onion sliced
1 Poblano Pepper sliced
Mushrooms (optional)
Simply Organic Fajita Simmer Sauce
Lettuce (cut)
1 Avocado pitted and sliced
1 lb Ground Turkey
 

Directions: 
1. Slice Onion, Peppers. Cut mushrooms if already not sliced. Heat oil in pan. Warm onion, until starting to brown. Add mushrooms, brown. Add peppers. Sautee for 4-5 minutes until softened. 

2. Remove vegetables from skillet. Add oil if pan is dry. Cook turkey. While turkey is cooking, slice lettuce and prepare avocado as a garnish. 

Ground turkey cooking...above is the boys fajita that we made for them for dinner!

3. When turkey is cooked, add Fajita sauce. Add vegetables. Stir an cook for 3-5 minutes. Let cool. Place in bowl with salad and avocado. Enjoy! 

Hope you guys all give this one a try! Have a great weekend! 

xo

Alex

Family friendly Breakfast & 16 Weeks Bumpdate

Happy Friday! I'm rocking in today at 4 months pregnant...I can't believe it! Hope you all have some fun plans for this summer weekend :) 

Guilt free Family friendly Breakfast:

I wanted to share with all of you an awesome breakfast that is great for the whole family! I know that sometimes it is such a struggle to make only ONE meal for the whole family..especially when you are trying to eat healthy ((hello fellow moms of picky eaters!)).

Introducing...Kodiak Cake Buttermilk Pancakes. The macros (Protein, fat, carbs) on these bad boys are AWESOME, and they taste great. Our boys love them and we usually top them with syrup or honey for the kids. Right now ((because I'm a little bit of IDGAF about nutrition sometimes ha)) I usually top mine with syrup too haha #pregnancyprobs. A healthier more clean option would be to top with either Walden farms sugar free syrup ( I haven't tried, I've seen a lot of people use though) or a nut butter- Peanut butter, almond butter, etc. 

These are literally IDIOT proof to cook (I am a decent cook but for some reason pancakes aren't on the top of my list of great meals I can cook), and you can play up the protein content with adding milk and egg. YES- that means the mixture needs NOTHING else. So, those days that you have nothing left in the house (read: no eggs), you can still make these suckers. 

I get mine at Wegmans but I'm sure you can snag them online. 

BumpDate: 

16 weeks pregnant! Boom! Another month and we will be halfway there. I've had a killer week of workouts and can't wait to have a day off tomorrow and rest my body! Weight gain is staying steady at 9 pounds. I have my anatomy scan scheduled in a few weeks before we go out of town, so fingers crossed everything is okay. I've started to stock up on maternity basics (short sleeve and long sleeve tees, leggings, etc.) for the upcoming months. By mid September I think I'll be hard pressed to find too much of my closet that fits properly! Ha! I'll be doing a post on my maternity must haves and brands I love for fit, comfort, and quality so keep an eye out for that! 

Hope you all have a great weekend! xo

Alex

4 Tips to Survive the 1st Trimester and Stay Active!

Hey hey everyone..

Happy August! I feel like stores every year push the "back to school" thing earlier and earlier and this year is no exception!! I'm super excited for August, another month of outdoor time with the family, and we have a vacation planned at the end of the month in Hawaii with all of my in-laws. We are SO so excited to really "getaway" and meet up with everyone. Anyone who has family that lives overseas knows the struggle and we are so looking forward to spending some time together in such a beautiful place! And yes, the boys are coming with us so I will be sure to keep you posted on how that travel goes Ha #RIPtous on that long flight. 

As I mentioned in my last post, the first trimester is finally over with and I've had a great first couple weeks of the second trimester! I've managed to stay active, and have more energy for sure! Unfortunately I have come down with a cold the last week so that's been a bit of a buzz kill. I swear that I can't have a pregnancy without getting sick at least once lol. The. WORST. 

Other than the breaking news that we are having another BOY (LOL!!), all my scans have come back great so far (which is amazing considering last pregnancy..what an emotional rollercoaster!) which is more important than anything else. 

Bumpdate

I won't bore you guys with the weekly "bumpdate" questions that sometimes you see, but I will give you the basics. I'm definitely closing in on maternity clothes (I'll be sharing my faves with all of you). Right now I can still fit into some of my "looser" clothes and shorts/pants that I bought during my "nursing and still losing weight phase" lol. Weight wise I've gained the same as the last two- I'm right around 10 or 11 lbs. I know to some people that might seem like a lot for 15 weeks but thats just how my body rolls! Cravings wise I always crave bad foods regardless of pregnancy haha. But some things I have been randomly loving more than usual are chicken sausage for breakfast, omelettes with tomatoes and cheese, parmesan cheese on pasta (I've definitely had more pasta than I normally do!), and I want cereal in the WORST way guys. I've only allowed myself to buy it once or twice because honestly I finish the whole dang box in about 2 days so...yeah those carbs are going straight to my thighs, not my baby!! 

Pregnant and working out

When I first got pregnant with my first I was so curious as to how other people felt working out: did they feel good? uncomfortable? Did their times/weights drop? Were they out out breath? I was coming off being a pro athlete and everything in my life was based around my workouts up until that point. Clearly...that all changed getting pregnant ha but I still wanted to stay active because it was such a big part of my life.

Basically, I wanted to know: Did they feel as bad as I did? Because I felt like total shit sometimes. Granted, that wasn't every day, but the bad days were tough. 

All of this was unchartered waters for me, so It was so reassuring to me to read articles where Olympians were being interviewed that they struggled at times with their mileage, times, and some didn't even run through their whole pregnancy. They had good days, and bad days...but staying active was so worth it was the overlying message!

I'll be sharing my workouts throughout my pregnancy (and hopefully some video as I continue on throughout the pregnancy) for those that are interested/curious and hopefully this helps someone who could be struggling with their workouts while pregnant! Remember, one day at a time and listen to your body! 

A lot of people are amazed at times how active I'm able to stay during pregnancy, and the first trimester is no exception! So many hormones and the fatigue is so fricking real.

I wanted to share some tips that helped me through my 3 pregnancies first trimesters in staying active!

4 tips to staying active and surviving!

1. Go to bed early: I would have to say this is my number 1 tip. Honestly, DVR the TV shows and catch them another time. Your body will thank you for it. I am always so tired by the end of the day and going to bed early always helped me be super productive a majority of the following day! I also have 2 boys that are early risers (like, 6 am wake up) so I *have* to bed in bed early!

2. Drink tons of water: I know this might seem super obvious, but a lot of times when I felt slightly nauseous or sick, water , fresh air and a little movement always helped me. Being on the go makes it hard to hydrate sometimes so remind yourself! Make sure you are drinking tons of water to help hydrate yourself! Lack of water can cause so many things including headaches and fatigue..

3. Stay the course: Try to stay as disciplined as you can with working out. I know its tough, especially when you don't feel good, but honestly getting moving is the BEST medicine. Sometimes it was like pulling teeth getting myself downstairs in my gym, or on a run, or having the discipline to workout at the fitness gym I go to, but I ALWAYS felt better after. You better bet I was taking longer rest breaks, lifting a lot less/running a lot slower, but I WAS THERE. Moving. Sweating. Endorphins. All the good stuff. And if you can't get yourself to do the "hard things", just walk. I walked soooo much this first trimester. 

4. Listen to your body: Nobody knows your body like you. I know myself and when I really need a "rest day" and when I'm just being lazy! If you need the rest, take it! But listen to you heart- it will tell you what you really "need." Take that nap or rest day if your body is asking for it! Being honest with yourself is so important to living a healthy and active lifestyle whether you are pregnant or not. 

I was actually about 9 weeks pregnant in these photos!

First trimester Workouts:

Week 8: No weight gain, horribly tired. 

Sun: 3 miles: 7:58, 7:36, 7:20- felt awesome! Monday: Lower Lift. Tuesday: Off. Wednesday: Upper and HIIT with sled. Thursday: Home workout. Friday: Lower Lift. Saturday: off

Week 9: 1 pound weight gain, feeling more bloated. Tired AFFFFF!!!!!

Sunday: Run @ soccer tournmaent I coached- 7:55, 8:26, 8:10 (was literally 90 degrees...so hot!). Monday: LOwer Lift. Tuesday 2.75 miles 8:18, 8:28. Wednesday: Sled HIIT and upper lift. Thursday: Lower Lift. Friday: off. Saturday 3 miles with stroller: 8:40, 8:03, 8:00. 

Week 10: +2 pound weight gain. Starting to show a little especially at night! 

Sunday: home workout. Monday: lower Lift. Tuesday: off. Wednesday: 3 mile run, very very slow. Thursday: Upper lift and sleds. Friday: lower lift. Saturday 5 400's with strength in between: squats, pushups, lunges)

Week 11: +3 pounds 

Sunday: home lift, Monday: off (glute was bothering me). Tuesday 2 mile run. Wednesday: Home lift. Thursday: 3 miles- 8:08, 7:53, 7:50, Saturday: Off. 

Week 12: +3 lbs

Sunday: 3.25 miles, 8:19, 8:04, 8:29. Monday: Lower Lift. Tuesday: 1 800, 2 400s, 4 200s, 6 100s @ track. Wednesday: soccer workout. Thursday: Upper lift and HIIT sleds. Friday: Lower Lift and soccer workout. Saturday off. 

Week 13: +5 lbs 

Sunday: home workout. Monday: lower lift. Tuesday: 3 miles: 8:17, 8:13, 8:37 (died at end!). Wednesday off. Thursday Upper Lift and HIIT sleds. Friday: lower Lift. Saturday 3 miles 8:20, 7:48, 7:49

Week 14: +7 lbs

Sunday: off. Monday: 4 800s, 400 m job inbetween. Tuesday Home lift. Wednesday Lower Lift. Thursday Soccer workout. Friday: upper and HIIT workout. Saturday: off. 

Have a great weekend loves!

xo

Alex

I guess 3 was meant to be....{{Pregnancy thoughts}}

Wow. What a crazy couple of months. I feel like I was getting into a great rhythm in LIFE..work, working out, family time, independence...also with my blog posts, and managing everything...and then BAM. Surprise! Baby #3 on the way, and RIP to me getting anything. done. ever. Ha. 

I guess thats the way life is sometimes, once you get the hang of something, it changes. 

I've always been really upfront and transparent as a person, and thats carried over onto this blog. We are super excited to add to our family, but it was definitely unexpected. I had so many mixed emotions finding out, the first being a little bit of shock. A little  bit of...I'm not sure if I can do this again. A little bit of I just started to get a little more independence...and SLEEP.

But you can be sure there was a lot of excitement in my heart wondering if it was a girl or boy, and knowing this baby would fully complete our family. 

I think deep down I knew I wanted to have one more child, I was just wrapping my head around actually doing it ALL over again. After all, I just stopped breastfeeding Seb in March.

Let's just put it this way: Since September of 2013, I've been breastfeeding or pregnant for all but 6 of those months. You guys...that is FIVE freaking years. I really wanted to enjoy the summer and just be me. Not breastfeeding. Not pregnant. Just me.

Thinking about a pregnancy, weight gain, and the stress/anxiety of expecting a baby and hoping everything goes smoothly...., and then when the baby actually arrives the sleepless nights, breastfeeding/pumping, and just adjusting to a completely different family dynamic. I just coulden't wrap my head around it. 

Family of 4 was just so easy in my mind- we were pretty much through the tough part. Seb is 2 in October, starting preschool. Max is super independent. Traveling gets easier every time, and when my husband is home we are man for man. I feel like we can give them enough attention. I enjoy the one on one time I have with each of them. And most importantly, we have two HEALTHY, beautiful, happy boys that I almost feel greedy wanting more.

But there was always a longing feeling inside of me feeling so heartbroken to not snuggle another baby, breastfeed again, and completely watch another human being change our lives and hearts.  You never hear people regret having their last child. You always hear people say "I wish I would have had more kids."

So, here we are. 14 weeks pregnant this week!

Real Talk: Let's talk 1st trimester, because it is OVER. Thank you Lord! I found out around 6 weeks, and within a week I felt like I had contracted the boubonic plague. Having 2 littles and one on the way in the first trimester was ROUGH, y'all. I can't even explain the fatigue. My nutrition was absolute shit. I had no energy, and tbh you're supposed to limit caffeine? Well caffeine did not do a thing for me those first 6-8 weeks. I needed some sort of AED to give me life!!

I had the worst food aversions. Basically everything that I would normally eat (read: clean) was not going to happen. I've eaten far too many pieces of grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, and pizza the last month or so than I would care to share. I tried to eat the best I could (I'm prob not giving myself enough credit..but guys..the struggle was so so real) and I guess I've done a decent job? because I'm only up 5 or 6 lbs at almost 14 weeks. This is a little less than pregnancy #1 and #2 {{probs bc I never. ever. sit. down. with 2 toddlers lol}}. 

Other than the lack of energy and nausea here and there, I've felt good and have been really active. The great weather has certainly helped keep me active, and even when I was struggling for energy, I knew a workout would never make me feel worse ((it usually gives me more energy)) so I think being consistent with my daily activity (steps, walking) and workouts has really helped me. 

I'm feeling SO much better now, and excited to share my last pregnancy journey with you all!(yes, this will be our last :P) 

Thank you ALL for your sweet messages and love over the last week or so! We are so blessed to have baby 3 on the way and all of you in our lives!

xo

Alex

Transformation Tuesday

Nothing worth having comes easy. 

20 long, long months. 

But I made it. And it feels so, so good. 

I'm here to show you that it can be done, if you want it.  I'm not a mom that "bounces" back and loses all her baby weight in 3 weeks ((Clearly)). Or has a flat stomach within 6 weeks ((see photo)). It takes time. Lots of time. Making the right choices, over and over again. Sometimes when you don't feel like it. Sometimes when you're just going through the motions. But every single one of those choices count. The little choices that at the end of the day make the difference.

I spend a maximum of 2- 3 hours at the gym ...a WEEK. Any cardio is mostly done with my kids (walking or running) and any other workouts I get in are in my basement with 3 sets of kettlebells and some bands. Do I watch what I eat? Of course. But I also don't turn down ice cream, pizza, or any other treats with my boys, family or friends. Balance. And when its time to knuckle down, I'm smart about fueling my body at the right times (and yes, that means carbs!!). 

My biggest tip? Start small. Make small changes. For example, my first step after Baby 2 was cutting out granola and replacing it with berries or greek yogurt with protein powder before bed. Once I conquered that, then I started working on my habits during the day. Committing to doing some meal planning, adding more vegetables, not sneaking bites off of the kids plates, eating more protein, etc. It all adds up and everything...EVERYTHING is a habit. 

Fitness and being healthy has always been a passion of mine due to my background and love of a sport. Now, its a passion of mine because I'm a good role model for my kids..because I'm healthier and feel strong and confident...and at the end of the day I'm holding on to the pieces of ME for those few hours a week.

I'm not just Max and Seb's mom.

Is being their mom the most important part of my life right now? Yes. But at the end of the day, and quicker than I think, they're going to grow into their own lives. And while I'm holding on tight to my fleeting moments with them, I'm also holding on to Alex. Just a little bit. Because I don't want to lose her in the midst of raising my littles and wonder where she went 15 years from now. 

Have a great day everyone!

xo

Alex

Sebby's 1st Birthday Party/1 year update

Hey everyone! Happy friday! Hope you had an awesome week. 

Last week was super hectic preparing for Seb's 1st bday party and then heading out 3 days later for vaca! I knew the timing wasn't going to be ideal but with our work schedules is was really the only weekend that worked. 

I decided to do a Peter Rabbit theme after seeing some supplies on zulily and thought they were super cute. He has a Peter Rabbit themed nursery so I thought it would kind of come full circle.

The weather has actually been really amazing lately so we had it outside at our house. Menu included your party favorites: veggie tray, snacks, pizza, subs, cake, and ice cream. I feel like its hard enough to prepare for a party but to cook too for it is really stretching it with 2 little ones so we just ordered out. 

                                                                                                             Fun with our cousins!

I got some really awesome Etsy decorations: center pieces, high chair "I'm one" decoration, a Peter Rabbit crown, Peter Rabbit water bottle stickers, Peter Rabbit, garland, paper plates, napkins, cups, a Peter Rabbit onesie, and my mom made some super cute descriptive food labels with Peter Rabbit on them. Etsy is literally the shit. They have everything you could want. Oh. and the cake. was. seriously. amazing. 

We had a decent day but the wind was blowing at 20 + mph in the morning which made setup really tough. The table cloths were blowing everywhere and it made setup slightly stressful haha. The party was super fun all in all and the kids all had a great time. 

Remember...when planning kids birthday parties:
1. ETSY and PInterest all the way for theme ideas, invites, and for specialized party supplies.
2. Dollar store for basic supplies, balloons, etc. 
3. Plan and order early, early, early. For instance, I ordered Seb's onesie and they sent a green one...so thankfully I had enough time to send it back and have them send a new one in baby blue! 
 

                                                                                      This cake though....Had to post an up close photo. 

My one year old:

As for Seb, he is a full blown toddler now! He is super mobile, walking everywhere (and trying to run), eating everything in sight and exploring and getting into everything. Unlike his brother, he could care less where I am and just takes off running! I'm gonna be that mom that has their kid on a leash at Disney next time haha.  He's also started to be super crazy with screaming. Max never really did that so this is new...he screams to get attention, when he doesn't get what he wants. I don't even understand it and it drives me crazy. His brother will then start screaming at the same time to be funny so...our house is super loud ! Also he is starting to stomp his feet. Soooo like I said, a toddler ((yikes)). The good thing is he's still pretty goofy and happy most of the time so hopefully this is just a phase he's going through until he learns how to talk.

SLEEP He's still up once a night but every now and again he will sleep through the night( he's done it twice while we have been on vacation...score!)Part of me wants to just completely night wean him but I think I'm holding on a little because I'm not sure we will have another. So for now its okay, I think he will wean himself on his own time. 

Nursing Still nursing before naps (so morning and afternoon), when he wakes for the day and before bed. If he wakes in the night he will nurse then and sometimes that takes the place of his morning nurse. So 4 times a day usually. I haven't tried to give him milk yet and I haven't really decided if I'm going to. Max hated it so we just give him yogurt and lots of cheese. So we will see I guess. 

Brother It amazes me how much he learns from his brother and how he feeds off energy from his brother! The next year will be tough but I think when Seb is around 2 yo they will be able to play more together :) 

Likes:

-trucks, cars
-balls
-food! 
-screaming

Dislikes: 
-face being cleaned
-nose being wiped
-being confined anywhere
-the word NO. lol
-sitting still

Hope you guys have a great weekend :) 

Alex

Birthday weekend & Helicopter Tour in NYC

Hey everyone! Happy friday. Hope you had an awesome week!! And hello October and fall :) Its going to be a busy couple of weeks with Seb's 1st birthday party and a family vacation but I'm totally looking forward to it! This weekend is going to be chaotic grabbing last minute items for the party but it will be worth it. 

About 2 weeks ago we headed to New York for 36 hours without the kids to celebrate my birthday (a few days in advance). We have honestly left the kids only once before and it was similar- I think for even less time (24 hours) so this was long overdue! It is always hard to leave them behind but I think its super important to get away and spend some mommy/daddy and "me" time. Self care and time for your relationship is super important and 36 hours in the big scheme of things isn't a lot of time especially if you don't do it often...(thats what I keep telling myself anyway)

               A little birthday love 

Travel

Because we have had the worst luck with flying and I have legit anxiety when we are both gone and the kids are with someone else, we decided to fly there and drive home. This way we would definitely get home on time..or at ALL.I seriously have had to drive back all night long twice already due to flights being cancelled..so..i just can't even deal with the stress. It totally isn't worth it especially with both of us being gone. At least if I'm on my own I don't worry as much, hubs is holding down the fort with the boys. 

 I go to NYC a lot so my go-to is definitely Jet Blue. Its a quick flight and the service and price is pretty good. Also, getting to the JFK air train and the subway is fairly easy from terminal 5. I've taken a few other airlines before and it definitely wasn't as easy.  Whether you take a cab (at least 45 mins depending on traffic, could be up to 2 hours ) or the subway (90 mins) just getting in/out of Manhattan is tough. And of course security, etc at the airport it is such an ordeal! And then tack on any delays or cancellations and its an all day affair.

So anyway, we drove home. The drive home was pretty smooth (6 hours) with no real worries. Best part of driving back had to be no limits on baggage back. Ha Ha!! 

Hotel: The Peninsula

We actually booked the trip pretty far in advance and I had been looking for good hotel deals for awhile but nothing really caught my eye. I consider a good deal to be a hotel room for $200 or less near the (central) park. My favorite spot to stay is around columbus circle to 5th along central park south. I normally stay at the Manhattan Club (they have fridges in the rooms for my milk haha ) or the Park central (both at 57th and 7th). Looking at their prices it was about $275 or so...which made me hold off.

One night I was looking up hotels and Hotwire popped up. I'd never used it before but thought I would play around with it. I selected 5 star hotels and it gave me several options but they were "mystery hotels" until I purchased. It gave me some information like location and what hotel line it COULD be but not much more info than that. I tried to put the search in a couple times to see if I could get any clues. I got one hint saying "Hurry, the last person that booked this got Hotel Peninsula". I quickly looked up the Peninsula and was like..DANG. I need to snag this deal ASAP.

For those of you who don't know, the Peninsula is a 5 star on 5th and 55th- it is gorgeous. Beautiful rooms, great location and the price was literally 70 % off on hotwire. It was a little risky (because there was no guarantee) but we went for it and got it! I was so stoked, I'm such a sucker for a deal. I'm that girl who you tell "i like your shirt" and I immediately respond with "thanks...got it at ____ for ____" haha.

So we ended up getting the room for $315 vs $800/900! Amazing! The hotel was great and I would definitely recommend it. Service was top notch, rooms were great and like I said location, location, location!! 

Helicopter Ride

The highlight of our trip for sure had to be the helicopter ride we took over manhattan (although actually going to the bathroom on my own for a whole day came in a second close haha #momproblems).

We barely made the ride on time just because our flight was delayed getting down to NYC (of course). We had a beautiful day for the ride and we were with 4 other people. Everything we had heard people said to go mid afternoon which is what we chose. We had these parachute things we had to put on and also had to watch a safety video prior to. I've never been on a helicopter ride so I was super excited. The most amazing areas of the city to see where no doubt Central Park, lower Manhattan, and midtown. 

                                                  Flying directly over the Brooklyn Bridge! 

We went with the NYC Helicopter Tours (very original name, lol) and we got on in lower manhattan. I know there are tons of options and some you can get on from Jersey. I didn't really want the hassle of getting over there so thats why we went with the one downtown. There is also one that looks pretty amazing where your feet are hanging out of the helicopter..I was definitely not ready for that but maybe someday haha. We selected the "VIP Manhattan tour" and it was 30 minutes. I think depending on your budget going for longer is definitely worth it if you can. 

It was definitely crazy how windy it was with the chopper going as we were getting in but it was super FUN. The views were amazing and it just gives you a great perspective on the city itself. There were one or two nervy moments ..like when the pilot flew DIRECTLY at the brooklyn bridge and steered away at the last section (on purpose of course)!! Anyway, heli ride over NYC is a must see and should be on your bucket list if you haven't already done it! 

The one thing I would def change if I had to do it again was force hubby to get on the heli first. Because I went on second and "was the smallest" I ended up sitting bitch for the ride. Total buzz kill. I was leaning over both sides to get photos which was super annoying. 

Other than that we did some shopping, went out to eat, and enjoyed a run in central park. It was a quick trip, but totally worth it and much needed! 

Have a great weekend everyone xo

Alex

9 Month Sebby

9 month Sebby

Wait…what.. Baby boy has been outside of my belly as long as he’s been in. Those first few weeks seem so hard, so long…but it really does go by fast! 9 months has brought us even more glimmers of his personality and lots of movement. Seb can walk with help and its honestly just a struggle to go anywhere. He hates being constricted to anything..whether its the car seat, pack and play, and even protests unless the stroller is moving! The toughest part to manage is when his brother wants to play outside and he is just crawling around and eating grass and getting into everything! 

He has developed quite the goofy personality and is always laughing. The antics that he already does at 9 months is making me nervous for when he is a full blown toddler boy! He rocks himself in the high chair to the point I think he’s going to be concussed, grabs my face while nursing, laughs at my sunglasses and grabs them off my head, and climbs on me and pulls my hair! He is a handful. He has started to protest with a clench of the fist and a moan/growl when he doesn't want to do something..its hilarious. 

Sleep

Ugh. The never ending topic. Sleep. At 9 months I basically sleep trained my first, so in the back of mind this was slightly haunting me. I hate, hate, hate sleep training. I honestly laugh when people talk about potty training. Sleep training is far worse. Listening to my baby scream for extended periods of time is seriously torture. I realized that whenever Seb puts himself completely asleep, he sleeps so much better- ie. only wakes up once. So last week I started to put him down while awake (rather than the “fall asleep at the boob and transfer him into the crib after he’s pretty much asleep!), and let him figure it out. We had 60 minutes of full crying (obviously with checkins periodically). I swear it took every ounce of me to not pick him up. I honestly was coaching myself “you can do this. you are an adult. he is a baby. he is just resisting change.” Sure enough, after the 60 minutes of crying, I didn’t hear from him until 3 am, and then I nursed him, and he went back to sleep until 6:45 am. Success! Each night the crying decreased and he now can (most nights) put himself to sleep. He is still inconsistent with his wakings but at least we are getting the once a night wakings more often. For example, this week he woke once a night wednesday and thursday, and last night was up twice. I'm hopeful that he will slowly drop feedings like his brother by the time he is 1 so I don't have to actively pursue night weaning! Any tips/suggestions welcome :) 

Breastfeeding/Food

It’s funny because even though not much time has passed since I had Max in these exact stages, I feel like I don’t remember some of it! Take for instance..starting real food. I don’t remember this being a “thing”. In my mind, Max just somehow already knew how to eat and chew. Of course, that can’t be possible but I seriously don’t even remember it. {this could also be because M had about 8-10 teeth at 9 months where S only has 6} Anyway, the last couple of weeks we have been trying to get Seb to eat some different “first foods” where he has to actually chew. First attempt was cheerios, which I used with Max. This was a no go. Clearly had NO IDEA what to do and it made me way too nervous having the cheerio sit in his mouth. Next tried mashed bananas…they became too mushy and he wasn’t able to pick them up. I had a few people suggest Puffs. I generally try to stay away from stuff like this, but honestly its been a god send with Seb! It crunches so he knows to bite, but it basically disintegrates in their mouth if they don’t necessarily chew the whole thing. He is doing so much better now and soon I think he’ll be ready for cheerios and maybe some soft bread. Phew! 

My love/hate relationship continues with breastfeeding. I love nursing, I really do. But I can’t WAIT to have my own body back. I try and pause a second and just take it all in every time when I’m nursing because I am never going to know when will be the last time. I hope that he weans himself similar to what my oldest did because I don’t want to have to make the decision for him! Pretty soon he’ll only be nursing 2-3 times a day so holding on to the moments because I know they’re going to fly by! 

Brother

I’ve heard from everyone that having two so close in age is hard but totally worth it for so many different reasons. I’m still waiting for the “worth it” phase to come! Between the “hugs” (which sometimes resemble tackling), toy taking, and bandwagon screaming…I think I might go craxy. Like I said…still waiting. Current occupation is referee and hoping it ends soon! 

Play

Seb loves free play (where he can just roam) and toys where he can completely stand up. He is really loving his jumper-roo or his walker at the moment. Its crazy how they go in phases! He starts jumping before I even put him in the jumper-roo where 2 months ago he would cry!! 

Likes

-Balls-chases them all over the house! 
-Bouncing
-eating
-swimming
-bath time
-standing
-any toy that he can’t have
-talking
-being outside 

Dislikes
-pack and play
-face being wiped

Until next month...

xo 

Alex

Six month sebby

The time has been flying and I am SO excited for the summer. We have been loving taking the boys for longer walks now that the weather is starting to get warmer. Our little Sebby hit his half year old birthday last week! 

The days go by and Sebby is more alert than ever. He is so different from his brother, yet so alike in some ways. He is such a happy little boy and content most of the time (complete opposite of his brother at this age) but is so in tune with EVERYTHING around him. I swear both boys from Day 1 have eyes in the back of their heads! 

Sleep

Remember when I said that Sebby is more alert than ever? No more "sleeping like a baby." The 4 month sleep regression hit our household hard. REAL hard. Sebby was up basically every 90 minutes all. night. long. After 3-4 weeks of this boot camp, I decided enough was enough. {{If you're a co-sleeper or attachment parent you may want to stop reading here!!}} Once he was fed and I knew there were no other issues, if he cried, I would let him cry and check on him periodically. There was no way I could function running a business, being a mom to him (and his brother), and trying to live my life with me sleeping in a rocking chair with him attached to my boob the entire night or being a human swing every 90 min. I've gotten him to the point where he can actually put himself to sleep when I put him to bed fully awake. This is really an incredible feat in my opinion after having Max, who would scream before I even laid him down until he was 9 months old. On a good night, Sebby is still up once between 10 pm and 5 or 6 am. Normally most nights he is up 2-3 times during the 12 hours he is down and I am still nursing him. I think I'll start to really crack down on it in a month or so if he doesn't drop any of those wakings. I do feel positive though because, well, we've improved from him getting up about 5 times a night during the sleep regression and basically sleeping in the swing most of the night! 

Breastfeeding

To tell you the truth, I LOVE this stage of breastfeeding. No more engorgement, hurting nipples, or feedings on the hour. Both you and baby are in a groove! They can control their heads better and latch on completely without any assistance (yes, this matters, especially at 3 am when theres's no lights on! I swear they just know where it is!) Sebby's still nursing (or if I'm not there) gets a bottle every 2-3 hours. He gets supperrrr distracted especially with his brother around, so I have to get creative when I'm on my own with the two of them. I cherish the moments when its just him and I though. I think this could be why I resist trying to completely night wean him. That, combined with the boost it gives my supply I think I'll hang on for another month or two. There's nothing like the smell of my little boy snuggled up next to me all milk drunk :) I've managed to freeze almost 400 oz of milk- an awesome feeling to have that little bit of backup just incase something happens to me or my supply! 

Solids

This little man does NOT miss a meal. Clocking in at over 21 lbs, we decided to start with some rice cereal just after he turned 5 months. The struggle to keep the food off his chin was SO real. The improvement he made with the spoon after about 10-14 days was so good and I feel like now he is really doing well with solids. I feed him twice a day, usually cereal and fruits in the morning, and in the evening he has cereal and veggies. I do like to keep the cereal in the mix the first couple of months because its something their stomach is used to (the breastmilk). The only food he hasn't liked has been green beans, spinach, and peas. Can you blame him? I don't think I would either! Everything else goes down without a hitch: peas, sweet potatoes, bananas, apple, prunes, carrots...now that he has hit 6 months I'm going to start working on more of the combination fruit and veggie mixes. We will see how those go!! 

Brother

I think one of the most common questions I get is ...How is Max with his brother? My answer is...he loves him. BUT I can't leave them in the same room together for obvious reasons. Max may have the best intentions at heart, but his "hug" may accidentally crush his little brother! In all seriousness, Max is a great big brother about 80% of the time. Every now and again though, he has a moment where he'll swat, poke, pinch his brother and has to do a few minutes in time out. I guess thats normal though (hopefully). Its been neat to see them interacting now that Sebby is growing into himself and smiling at his brother or laughing at him! 

Play

Sebbys favorites include the Fischer price Gym- he spends so much time reaching for things and tummy time on this (see above with his brother :): 

He loves the jolly jumper:

He's such a boy already..loves his fisher price car!

Likes: 

-PEOPLE. This little man is full of smiles whether you're family or a stranger!
-Putting anything in his mouth
-Pulling my hair
-His brother
-Bath time
-Trying to sit up. I swear he does about 698 situps a day! 
-Going for walks
-Mortimor the Moose
-His swing. Yeah, we're still napping in that. #DONTJUDGE #imworkingonit
 

Dislikes: 

-Having his nose wiped. 
-The end of the day #grumpy
 

Stay tuned for MY 6 month postpartum update....xo

Alex