Rest Day but Exhausted

I had a plan to write a post about my entire day. I took pictures and everything. But now I am worn out and too tired to put the post together. Baby was extra fussy tonight and it seems the only thing that can calm her down is mama. So any time to myself is pretty much nil. So is the life of a mother, I believe.

Since I get 2 rest days per week, I took today as my first one since I had to take the cat to the vet during the time that baby usually takes a longer nap where I can fit in part of my workout. So no workout today.

I haven’t entered my calories from supper time on-- in parallel with the crazy night. Yep, probably went over them a bit today.

But I did cook a healthy turkey chili for supper. Probably sounds odd for this time of year, but it was kind of rainy and cooler today.

I was looking for a good turkey meat loaf recipe that wasn’t high in calories but didn’t have the time to search too hard and didn’t find any quickly. Any recommendations on a recipe?

I’m trying to get back into the blogging groove. Not quite sure the direction my posts will take this time around. Not sure I will ever have the time for the detailed posts of pre-mamahood—but that’s ok. I’m sure there will be plenty of topics to write about as baby grows!

I wanted to get a blog makeover by a graphic designer—and I had one all picked out (Hubby Jack), but apparently he is no longer blogging or designing! Bummer! Recommendations for good blog designers (who don’t charge an arm and a leg) would be appreciated.

I’ve already been contacted for my first product review since I’ve been back—so stay tuned for that! I should get the product soon. Fun! Also, if you have a product you’d like reviewed… I am taking requests again!

So tomorrow will be back at the workouts. Yay?

Peeked at the Scale

I peeked at the scale this morning and saw that I have lost 4.4 lbs. so far. Not too bad for 2 days! I love the big losses when you first begin a dieting and exercise routine.

The important part is that I am feeling lots better. It does a person good to get some exercise in and to eat right. I will try to remember that on the days when I really don’t feel like doing either!

I got in today’s workout. It was another 100, 90, 80, etc. workout. This time the 100 was to complete 1 mile. I decided to head outside and walk the 1 mile with baby in the stroller. I assume the trainer wanted me to run that mile, but I am feeling sore and it was nice to mix things up a bit instead of staying inside on the treadmill. It was SO hot and humid outside today. I was dripping when I got home.

Here is baby sleeping away on the walk.

I’ve decided for 10 lbs. lost that I want to get a pedicure—sounds wonderful! I would like to lose 10 lbs. by the 4th of July—pretty sure I can do that!

A Second Day and Life as a Mom News

Fitness

I managed to fit in my workout again today! Yay!

I have to admit that I was happy to hear baby wake up half-way into my workout because then I had to take a break.  

The workout was TOUGH! I had to do it at my own pace because I’m not quite at that fitness level yet. So instead of running 1 mile at 5 mph, I did 1 minute intervals—starting at 5 mph and having to decrease to 4.5 as I went. But I’d say that’s pretty good for only day 2 back and not having run for a LONG time. I’m proud of myself.

The second part of the workout was mostly leg exercises, but it was one of those workouts where you do 100 reps, 90 reps, 80 reps, and so on—down to 10 reps of the last exercise. That is exhausting!! My legs are so sore—I sure hope I can walk tomorrow!

Life

I think I am finally getting into the groove of this mom thing this week. I was really struggling with baby girl not wanting to take naps during the day, which would result in an overtired baby who liked to scream.

I read online that babies her age shouldn’t be awake more than 1.25 hours at a time before they need a nap. The nap could be 10 minutes, but they need a nap.

So I started watching for signs and sure enough, at about 1 hour of being awake she starts rubbing her eyes, yawning and looking tired. So at this point I’ve been putting her in my sling and she goes to sleep pretty quickly…this is the fastest way to get her to sleep during the day time it seems. I then transfer her to the Moses Basket and she stays asleep. So then she has her little nap, I have 10 minutes- ? to accomplish a few things myself…and baby is much happier! I hope it continues.

I don’t think I mentioned this, but at 3 weeks we had some scares and she was diagnosed with infant reflux. The medicine stated working and our baby completely changed from screaming all day to being more content.

I’m not going to lie—I’m pretty sure our little girl is going to be very particular and a little feisty. She lets us know IMMEDIATELY when she has wet or dirtied her diaper. You know how Pampers have that yellow line that turns blue when the diaper is wet/dirty? She lets us know prior to that. lol.

But anyways, I’m not sure how many of you who read are moms and even care about this kind of stuff, but it’s my life now!

Day 1: Back at this Weight Loss Journey

Today marks day 1 of another leg of this journey. I had my 6 week check up and that means that I am released to do some more serious exercise.

I am starting back at this a little too close to my original starting weight when I began, but hey—you have to start somewhere!

As of today, I’ve already lost 16 lbs. of pregnancy weight without trying. I gained more than the 15 lbs. they recommended for me—you live and learn. I honestly think that with my next pregnancy I will gain less—since I know what to expect, etc.

I joined an 8 week online program with a local trainer. It includes a very basic eating plan, which I will modify here and there but follow the general rules of.  It includes a lot more protein than I am used to eating—so that will be a change for me! But it is good, healthy food and I have been satisfied all day—I am a little hungry now at 5 pm—but it’s post workout and almost supper time.

Today was the first day in a LONG time that I completed a difficult workout. Whew! It felt really good! I did intervals on the treadmill for about 1.5 miles total. And then the workout included arm strength training and one ab exercise. I felt pretty worn out afterwards—and I only did one set because I didn’t want to overdo it on the first day!

I was delightfully surprised that baby girl actually took a nap today…she fights sleep during the day (I’m working on this). She woke up RIGHT when I was done working out—so it was perfect! I know I cannot expect this everyday, but it made me feel like I was starting off on the right foot. It will most certainly be a trial to get my workouts in—but I have a plan. If I can’t fit the workout in during the day, I will do it when hubby gets home.

I am going to think about my goals and hopefully write a post about what I want to accomplish. One day at a time!

Being a New Mother

Motherhood has been everything and nothing like I thought it would be. I have a new respect for all of the women I know who are excellent mothers. This is especially true for my own mother—this woman bore and raised four children—all of whom grew up to be respectable people (except for myself when I am stressed out ). And through the eyes of her child, she made it look easy—but now that I’m a mother myself, I see that being a mother isn’t as easy as she made it look and it probably wasn’t as easy for her as I thought it was.

I want to be as good a mother as my own was/is to me.

I want baby Sienna to grow up knowing that she always has me standing behind/beside her to support her, encourage her and to love her. I want to make her feel like she is loved without any reservation and that she will always know that home is a refuge.

Let me tell you, I am a ball of nerves sometimes. Being a new mom is tough. Being a new mom who had never changed a diaper and had always been uncomfortable around babies is probably even tougher. But you learn and maternal instincts kick in that you never would have thought existed. In some ways, being a mother is natural and in many other ways it’s a learning experience.

I am trying so hard and often feel like I don’t have a clue about what I’m doing. I suppose confidence is learned too. If only I could change her diapers faster so that she wouldn’t have to scream every time I do it. If only I knew exactly what each and every cry meant so that I could meet her needs more quickly.

If only I didn’t have to feel the pressure of the stares of certain people judging me as I try to decipher her cries. I am probably my own worst critic, but some people know how to be encouraging and understanding and there are others I’d rather not be around until I get this whole act together…and maybe I never will. Maybe that’s just the life of a mother.

There was the first time I had to take her out of her car seat at our bible study and bumped her head on the handle. One woman gasped. It didn’t even phase baby Sienna but this Mama had a big case of Mommy Guilt. I bawled my eyes out on the way home.

There are so many things that many other new moms probably do better than me. I guess I really don’t know—but that’s how I feel as my own worst critic. But then I hold Sienna in her calm moments and she gazes into my eyes and I know that I must be doing something right. When she reaches her little arm up onto my chest when I feed her, when she opens her little mouth like a baby bird trusting that she will receive food, when her cries are quieted when I pick her up, when only mommy can calm her down, and when she lifts her head up just so she can look at my face, I know I must be doing something right.

Being a new mom isn’t easy, but there are those times when you are rewarded with precious looks, unforgettable moments, and lovable cuddles and it makes it all worth it.

And I am learning that all I can do is give my best and all that I have for this precious miracle we have been blessed with--and it will be enough. One day, when I am toting around four children, I will look back at my struggles as a new mother and laugh—I am sure of it.