Thursday, December 31, 2009

Body After Baby









I am joining the Body After Baby challenge I learned about on another Mama's (Samantha) blog here. I felt inspired and thought it would be a good goal for the new year and new decade!





Here are my goals:



Diet:

When Caleb was 5 weeks old he was diagnosed with food sensitivities within my breastmilk. I then made the choice to begin an elimination diet in order to continue breastfeeding Caleb. I followed a food allergy chart and eliminated all but the least allergenic foods from my diet. Since then, I have slowly been adding foods back in, finding that Caleb is sensitive to many foods. In addition to eating the least allergenic foods, I absolutely have not had any soy, dairy or gluten as well. I plan to go forward with this diet and my goal is to continue breastfeeding Caleb until he is atleast one year of age. I feel that this diet has contributed, as well as breastfeeding, to my overall health and wellbeing since giving birth. I have lost all of my "baby weight" and then some, and I feel great!


However, I have big goals for my diet:




  1. Continue to add more foods back in with priority being finding more fresh veggies...even if I don't like them (for example sweet potato...gross)! (As of now I am eating cooked carrots...everyday. Everyday.) Caleb has shown signs of allergies to all green veggies (including romaine lettuce and even green beans)


  2. Find a better supplement because I don't think mine are cutting it. (I'm looking for a great prenatal/breastfeeding supplement that is soy/dairy/gluten free...if you know of one I'm looking for suggestions! Most supplements have soy in them)


  3. Eat more variety, even though it is easy and safe to eat the same thing everyday. My goal for the next months is to try more of a rotation diet.


  4. Eat in this order of importance...Vegetables, Protein, Fruit, Grain


  5. Drink WAY more water


  6. Eat organic when possible (right now I eat about 95% organic...but this is because of the elimination diet, I would eat less organic if I could...because it is SO expensive!)




Exercise:


At 16 weeks pregnant I was put on bedrest for 5 days due to a complication. After those 5 days I was on a weight restriction and activity restriction for the remainder of my pregnancy. Needless to say, I haven't worked out other than walking on a treadmill for almost a year. Sad. While I have lost all of my baby weight and then some, when I actually took the time to look in the mirror the other day (after reading about this very challenge...actually)I noticed a few things were, um...missing. Like... my booty.



Here are my goals:




  1. Exercise. Actually do it, think about it, then do it. This will take effort, but I need to make it a priority. Whether it be 9am while Cole is holding Caleb or 12am while Caleb sleeps, I need to exercise. My first goal is to exercise 3 times a week by doing Yoga Booty Ballet (it's a DVD video...it's all I can do now because I live in the midwest and it's freezing...and I do well with instructional help and someone saying "good job" :) ) I would love to say I'll run a mile, lift weights, do sit-ups, and all...but I'm being realistic. This is all I have time for, right now. But hey, something is better than nothing right?

  2. I'm going to stop at goal 1 for now : ) Not because of lack of motivation, but I don't want to overwhelm myself :) I will add more later...actually that is goal # 2...to add more goals after I achieve goal # 1. :)






Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Sittin' Pretty

He has been doing it for a couple weeks




Though sometimes he pouts...






and sometimes he fusses through it...




Caleb is...



...sittin' pretty.

Oh, and please pardon the drool.

Caleb rocks the drool drenched shirt look =)

Thursday, December 17, 2009

5 Months

Tomorrow...
my beautiful baby boy...
will be 5 months old.
I simply cannot believe it.
Caleb...
is sitting up on his own (for a little while)
jibber jabbers some sort of words
cries the word "mama"
has developed a little more of a like for the carseat
loves the bath and splashing
loves to be with daddy, his "taxi"
laughs histerically and has a wonderful sense of humor
thinks mama is super funny for some reason?
squeals with delight
tests how loud his voice can really be...which is quite loud!
gives open mouthed kisses...so cute!
loves to snuggle snuggle snuggle
falls asleep holding something soft (little blankies or his puffy)

why does 5 months seem SO much older than 4 months?

My baby boy is growing up!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Little Face


I love...




his...



little face.

His little face that...
smiles after just waking up
looks around with wonder
pouts so sweetly
lights up when he sees mama or daddy
raises his eyebrows with such expression
wrinkles his nose when he laughs
squints his eyes when he smiles
makes raspberry sounds with his lips
whispers softly when sleepy
looks so peaceful and beautiful while asleep
looks up at us with love and trust.
I just love...
his little face. :)




Thursday, November 19, 2009

4 months

Caleb is...
4 months old!
He is...
squealing,
giggling,
giving kisses,
singing along to Glee songs,
reading stories with Mama and Daddy,
cuddling with blankies,
snuggling his puffalump dog,
and getting really big!
Caleb is in the 90th percentile for height
and
80th for weight!
Whoa big boy!
We love you, sweet baby boy!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Favorite Things (Part One...Baby Addition)

These Are A Few...

...Of My Favorite (baby) Things...



Given to us by dear friends...

Rutheah and Will!

Caleb hears this story each night

before he falls asleep.

I can't wait to get more books

by the same author!
Her other books are darling!

What can I say?

This travel system has been great!

It's simple,sturdy,neutral, easy to use and...

SAFE

Chicco, you done good.


Love this body wash.
I love anything by California Baby, actually.
It's gentle, it smells good...
and it's free of yucky stuff!
I buy ours at Target.
Don't you just love Target?




Swaddle blankets by Aden and Anais
They are breathable, soft
and
they seem to love the washing machine.
I love how they are really big
and
make the perfect nursing cover too.
Light for summer, cozy for winter.
Caleb loves them!




Best diaper cream, ever!
Seriously, I love Weleda.
This stuff rocks!
I have found it protects
longer and better
than any other diaper cream out there
(I've tried most of them)
and
it's free of yucky stuff, too!
So there you have it, five things I love baby.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Little bear...

Little bear...
What will you wear?
Hmmm...
I think I'll...



Just be...
A bear!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happenings of a very good day...

Walked...
...in the sunshine.
Loved...
...a little Vitamin D.
Practiced...
...rolling over.


Talked...
...to the ceiling.
For a good half hour.


Sat...
in the Bumbo.
For the very first time...
...unassisted.




Snuggled...

...A LOT.






Cause me to hear
Thy lovingkindness
in the morning;
for in Thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way
wherein I should walk;
for I lift up my soul
unto Thee.

Psalm 143:8


Monday, October 26, 2009

Little Boy Blue (In A Little Blue Coat)

I love Caleb's...
Little blue coat.


Looking like a big boy...
In his little blue coat.



Looking pretty serious...

In that little blue coat.






Warm in the sunshine...

Warm in my little blue coat.






Looking so sweet

In your little blue coat

Little boy blue.

Who's eyes just may stay...

blue.



Sunday, October 25, 2009

Caleb Face

Sweet Face...
...Silly Face

Irresistible Face...

...Caleb Face :)

Friday, October 23, 2009

Baby Love

Baby Love...

How loved

can a baby be?




Adored.

Cradled...

Cuddled...

...Snuggled .




Held


Closely...


Tightly...


...Near.





Protected...


Watched Over...


...Loved Fiercely.






Baby love...


there is no love


like the love for a baby.

But really...

how could you not

love this face? ;)






Friday, October 2, 2009

2 Month Milestones


Caleb
is now...
grasping objects.

His aim is...

improving.

Here he is with "Cowabunga"

Caleb babblings...
"geeee"
"
glaaaa"
"doooo"
"plaaaa"
"eeeeee"
Baby babble is the cutest.



Daddy time ...

talking

singing

snuggling

Daddy time.






Mommy smooshy.



We LOVE you and you bring us joy each day :)

One thing I specifically pray for Caleb is that God would give him a wonderful sense of humor, it is amazing at his young age of 2 months how much we are seeing God shape his little humor already, he makes us laugh, himself laugh, and is just the cutest silly boy!

Monday, September 28, 2009

One Year





Cole and I


have been married for...


one year and eight days!






Here are some photos


of the big day...




...and one from our honeymoon too :)











Honeymoon.











Chapel decor.











Married.






Wow what a year, full of life...joy, pain, challenges, blessings, new life, and so much more. God's hand is always upon us, guiding us and helping us. I would be nothing without Him...I am nothing without Him. I am thankful He has given me someone to endure with.




Happy Anniversary Cole...
I love you
and
thank our Father for you
and our Caleb
each day.



















Friday, September 18, 2009

Two Months




He is...
smiling.

He is...

curious.

He is...

playful and sweet .

Caleb is...
two months old today!


But my servant Caleb,
because he had another spirit with him,
and hath followed me fully,
him will I bring into the land whereinto he went;
and his seed shall possess it.
Numbers 14:24