Update: Two Months

Baby Update!!

How old: 9 weeks

Weight & length: 9 pounds, 14 ounces and 23 inches long

Feeding: Still on a the booby-juice train and regularly taking bottles from dad when I'm gone. I've gotten less severe about pumping and almost ran out so I have to force myself to start doing the feed'n'pump routine again. I feel like I will forever be a slave to the boob, but the little monster is so healthy!! She hasn't gained a huge amount of weight, but she has definitely gotten longer! Her cute little bunny onesie has turned into some capri pants.

Sleep: As of two days ago, we have started putting her down in the crib and it's looking good! We moved her crib mattress down to the couch for about a week so she would get used to the feel of the mattress without the shock of not being around us, and that worked great. Baby girl is sleeping soundly in her nursery right now, this will be the first night not in our bed and I'm trying to stay positive! Fingers crossed for sure.

Dirty Stuff: We figured out that the screaming cry that she has been doing while feeding is NOT her tummy, but her fighting falling asleep (girl has FOMO like nobody's business) which makes me feel better knowing she isn't in any pain. Less poopy diapers, still steady with wet ones, and she is a gassy little thing (I've been trying to keep away from certain foods but it doesn't seem to matter).

The loves of my life. I'm a very lucky lady.

Milestones: I almost have a little rollie-polie on my hands; Atti can roll from her back to her side and vice versa. She's not fully flipping over yet, but soon enough. Blade has nicknamed her "Scooter" because she kicks those chubby little legs during tummy time and manages to scoot all around on her face. She can hold her head up on her own now, which the doctor noted was really great and ahead of speed! And my favorite part... THE SMILING! Full ear to ear, gummy grin, smiling for mommy and daddy... I love it so much and I can't wait to get some giggling out- we've got all the makings of a talker, she coos and babbles constantly.

Upcoming: If the weather would ever get back to decent around here, I'm really excited to be able to take her out for walks in the stroller. We've made a few trips out of the house- I even successfully went to Trader Joe's with her- but it would be nice to be able to go out more and introduce her to the world. We have a few baby showers coming up next month for Rhiannon and Lauren that I am going to bring her to, so that should be fun. All in all, I just want to start letting the little monster figure out the world- poor thing has been locked in a house her whole (two month) life!!!

She's definitely got my eyebrow game going! Look at that attitude!

My sweet baby girl! 

Update: PP Progress and Atti at Two Months

Things have been a whirlwind the past couple weeks, hence the gap in posts, but I am finally getting a chance to breathe for a day or two. Between school full time and now working two jobs (I'm starting to grab shifts across the street at Barrel 31 in addition to The Drop, which may be a full transition come summer), I have been a busy bee. Thankfully I have an amazing partner in Blade, and some great friends and family that are helping me juggle the working mom/student lifestyle I managed to fall into.

Some postpartum updates! Not only did I not have time to make any posts the past two weeks, but I also haven't had time for the gym. I'm ashamed to say it's been probably since right after my last post that I stepped foot in there, but I've been doing my best to continue to eat healthy and stay active. I'm on my feet constantly with work, and walking the baby, so that helps. Here are my eight week postpartum pictures, I'm still seeing some progress and I'm SO CLOSE to fitting in my pre-pregnancy jeans, so I am staying hopeful and very happy with how I look.

I still have my line on my tummy, but it's fading along with the pooch!

Thanks to a two day break from work (and my tax refund $$$), I got a chance to go to Trader Joe's and stock up for the next couple weeks. I did my Monday Meal Prep yesterday and basically stayed along the same lines of what I did the last prep (which you can find here), adding some brussel sprouts and some Weight Watchers Fudge Bars to the mix. I also traded out my waffle and banana breakfast with my original oatmeal one because I haven't found a waffle I really enjoy. I also made sure to pre-package all of my meals for the next couple days because finding the time to heat up everything separately has been a challenge, so I'm going for super convenience.

Baked chicken, sweet potato, and broccoli for dinner this month.

Atti update: We have ourselves a two month old!! She has been a real treat this month- the smiles are getting bigger and the coos and giggles are getting louder. I love watching her play and seeing how she's starting to interact with her surroundings, myself and her dad included. She can recognize our voices now and perks up when one of us walks into the room. Sad news is that she has officially started growing out of the Newborn clothes and into the 0-3 month outfits; I don't want her to grow up already! But man, is she sprouting up quick!! She is still eating like a champ, no problems in the breast feeding area. The main trouble we're having now is getting her to sleep. She's been using me as a pacifier, I feel like a slave to the boob now. Today we are attempting to put her down in the crib when she's sleepy, letting her fuss for up to 15 minutes, and then going in to soothe her and lay her back down. Thus far, we've gone in once already and managed to calm her down, and she's back to the screaming match. Hopefully it doesn't take too many days of this to get her to sleep soundly on her own. I hate hearing her cry, but at this point we have to do something drastic to get her to stop using me as a prop. We have her next check up tomorrow, so maybe Dr. Martin can give us some pointers on getting our sweet little monster to stop living up to her name!

Baby wearing is fantastic when I need to get things done. Plus, who wouldn't love this view!

Chicken Sausage Plate

Chicken Sausage Plate with Zucchini and Chips&Dips

If you haven't figured out yet, I'm a flavor junkie. I can't stick with a diet that is bland and boring, so when I find something that is healthy with a ton of taste I can't wait to try it. I also love Trader Joe's and do all of my shopping there- which is where I found this awesome lunch combo that I tried today.

I heated up a link of the Sundried Tomato Chicken Sausage (1 minute in the microwave) while sauteing a cup of (pre chopped) zucchini with some salt, pepper, and EVOO- quick, easy, and can be done with one hand while holding the baby in the other. I added 2 tablespoons of this awesome Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip that clocks in at only 30 calories per serving, and some multi-grain crackers for bulk. It took me all about 5 minutes and turned out to be a really delicious and filling meal. If you want some variety for lunch, try this type of combo!

Calories: 221

Fat: 10g
Protein: 15g

Carbs: 19g

February Meal Prep

The hardest thing about trying to stay fit while being a new mom is getting time to eat and eat well! I try on my own to put healthy things in the house and tell myself that I'll cook a healthy meal, but with the baby and going back to work and school, I don't even have time to finish a cup of coffee in the morning, let alone pick out and put together a skinny lunch. So that's where meal prepping comes in handy: I take an hour out of my week (usually Monday, when I have little else going on outside of the usual) and prep some food that is easy to throw together and good for my ever-shrinking tummy.

This month, I've been trying to watch my portion sizes and my calories because I have a bad habit of going to town and end up unsatisfied, too full, and on my way to gaining another pound, so I use a calorie counting app (MyPlate by Livestrong) to keep myself accountable. I don't follow it exactly, I allow myself to go over my calorie limit on occasion, but it's making me more conscious of exactly how much I am eating and where I can make good-for-you changes along the way.

So what I've done is basically prepped simple proteins, veggies, and carbs ahead of time that I can either toss in the microwave if I'm in a rush, or throw back on the skillet to mix up if I have a spare moment. This week I chose chicken and sweet potatoes as my main protein and carb, with a mix of veggies to add some options so I don't get bored.

I chopped up one yellow, red, and green pepper and threw them in a bag so I can just grab a handful and throw it into a skillet without having to prep them. Same with three zucchini. Veggies are an awesome way to fill you up without taking in a ton of calories, and we all know they are really good for you.

The chicken and sweet potatoes take a little bit more work, but not much, and then you throw them in the oven, so there is no slaving over a stove for these. For the sweet potatoes, just stab them with a fork all over and throw them straight on the rack, but put a baking sheet with foil underneath for any drippings. Then, I put one chicken breast each on a square of aluminum foil and add a splash of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste, then I fold them up individually (tightly) and stick them on a baking dish. I cook all of this together to save time, just make sure you set two timers so you don't forget. The oven is set to 425, cooking the sweet potatoes for 45 minutes (for small ones) and the chicken for 35. You can either take them out and put them directly into storage containers, or do as I do and cut the chicken in half and take the skin off the sweet potatoes and separate them into individual containers (1/2 chicken with 1 sweet potato, just adding veggies for a meal).

I also included what I am trying this week for breakfast. I tend to get a bit more time for breakfast than I used to, and it is the most important meal of the day for me because I load it up with carbs (... I love carbs) to keep me energized throughout the day. I'll be doing a multi grain waffle from Trader Joe's topped with a sliced banana and a drizzle of honey for sweetness. Usually, in place of the waffle, I do some oatmeal because it is super quick, but I'm going to mix it up for once.

I try to keep my meals at a basic 1/4 protein, 1/4 good carbs, 1/2 veggies for lunch and dinner and throw in some 100-150 calorie snacks twice a day, on top of a solid breakfast. It's simple and quick if you take some extra time out once a week to prep- it's a way of not letting yourself have the option to fail, you always have something in reach that is filling and healthy. Plus, adding spices and sauces (smart options, of course) can make any protein/carb/veg option delicious and diverse so get a little creative. The only thing you have to lose is weight!

Mexican Chicken Bowl

I was craving some flavor tonight and had some chicken and peppers left over from meal prep that I didn't want to go bad, so I threw together a little Mexican rice bowl which turned out very satisfying. I probably shouldn't have added the cheese, but I just needed some today. I cooked a few servings of rice earlier today to use for meals so this proved to be quick and easy to make.

4oz chicken breast

1/3 cup brown rice

1/2 cup yellow pepper, diced

2 tbsp salsa

1/4 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

Saute the peppers with a dash of olive oil until soft. Add the chicken, rice, and salsa until hot and dump into a bowl. Top with sprinkled cheese to melt. Super simple!

Calories: 290

Fat: 11g

Protein: 16g

Carbs: 28g

Chicken and Sweet Potato Hash

Chicken and Sweet Potato Hash

This is a quick and filling dinner I threw together last week when I didn't know what to do with my very under cooked half of a sweet potato (that's what I get for rushing meal prep). I used 1/2 a chicken breast, 1/2 a sweet potato, and 1/2 pre-cut pepper from my pre-made meals so it was mainly just heating things up. Just use some coconut oil (lightly) to saute the sweet potato and peppers, then add the chicken, salt and pepper to temperature and you're done! 

4oz baked chicken breast
1/2 sweet potato

1/2 cup orange bell pepper
1 tbsp coconut oil

salt and pepper to taste

Calories: 388

Fat: 16g

Protein: 11g

Carbs: 52g

Lunch Scrambler

Quick and easy, although odd lunch choice for when you are wanting something that fills you up after a good workout: why not make some breakfast? I usually meal prep, and have a bad habit of going off my diet if I don't have anything ready for me, but the boyfriend gave me a great idea for an after-gym meal when I realized I ran out of chicken. It is loaded with protein and light on carbs (though it does pack a bit of a punch in the 'fat' area, but after a work out I don't worry too much about that since your body is burning so much energy) and it is super simple.

2 oz deli turkey, shredded (Trader Joe's)

1/4 yellow bell pepper, diced

1/4 orange bell pepper, diced

1 slice lite provolone cheese (Trader Joe's)

1/4 tbsp Coconut Oil (Trader Joe's)

Heat up the coconut oil (I LOVE this stuff, but be careful because it is high in calories), add the peppers and saute. Add turkey to warm for a minute and then the eggs and cheese, scrambling everything together. It's less than ten minutes and it's got a lot of flavor and texture.

Calories: 370

Fat: 20g

Protein: 34g

Carbs: 5g

Turkey, Provolone, and Peppers Scramble

Postpartum Progress Six Weeks

I know I can't be the only one to say that the very first thing we worry about as women when we get pregnant is how our bodies are going to look after ten months of stretching out. I couldn't wait to get back into the gym and assumed it would be an easy task, considering I was mildly active pre-pregnancy and I've always enjoyed getting a little sweaty. I completely underestimated how you feel after having a baby! Of course I figured that my lady parts would be sore and that it might take me a day or two to get used to the sudden weight loss (I lost 9 pounds the day I had Atti), but I had no idea that the rest of my body would feel as if I were run over by a Mac truck.
The things that they don't prepare you for are hard to explain until you've felt it. It was as if someone removed every bone and muscle holding the trunk of my body upright, like I literally had a bowl full of jelly for a mid section. My arms, legs, and neck were aching like I was doing supersets all day thanks to the constant bracing and pushing of labor. My pelvis felt like a stack of bricks that nobody bothered to cement together- in fact, my whole body just didn't seem to connect. But how long can that last, like a week right? Wrong. Just walking around the house too much (on top of the extreme exhaustion from sleep deprivation) would make me feel weak and sore all over again, plus it makes the bleeding from birth worse. So I calmed down and finally listened to my body, and sat my ass back on the couch.

Jump to two weeks down the road and I am starting to feel a little like my self again, so I decide to give some fitness a shot. I started out with some basic moves that they recommend for you at the hospital and in all of the "What To Expect" books: leg slides, head and shoulder lifts, pelvic tilts, and kegels. I also was feeling extremely stiff and wanted something to relax me a little while also stretching out my sore and stiff muscles so I added a post partum yoga video I found on YouTube (20 Minute Post Natal Yoga). **I would recommend listening hard core to what your body tells you if you decide to add anything to the basic doctor recommendations because you can really hurt yourself if you try to push too hard! I did these three times a week while Atti was napping (which never happened conveniently) for about two weeks. I went back to work at four weeks and then started going to the gym at five, but only because I was feeling almost completely back to normal- few aches and pains on occasion but nothing that wouldn't get better with some activity. Here are my one week and six week progress shots (an in between three week photo is here).

One week post partum: 151 lbs

Six Weeks Post Partum: 140 lbs

I took that last photo at the gym since I started doing an easy, yet sweat inducing work out that I got from "The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises". I've used this book for years to help me with my workouts, it is a great staple to have for anyone who likes doing more than just cardio at the gym. The specific workout that I'm doing is tailored for those who want to get their body back, whether they are new to the gym or have just been sitting on their butt for too long- it's perfect for a post natal body because it helps to strengthen areas that have been weakened from being idle during that last trimester (or last two in my case) while making sure that you don't overdo it. I'll be doing a bi-monthly check in with pictures, my workouts, and my stats along the way to keep myself accountable.

Six Week Stats

Workout: Weeks 1-4 of the "Get Your Body Back" Workout training 3x per week, Cardio workout 2x per week

Weight: 139.6 lbs

Waist: 30.5 in

Hips: 40 in
Thigh: 22 in

Bicep: 10.5 in