On Losing 55 Pounds // Postpartum Weight Loss

I've been thinking about writing this post for almost a year now. The journey of postpartum weight loss is different for everyone, but for me it was a huge struggle. I'm passionate about good food but self-control is not one of my strengths, so losing the weight I gained during my first pregnancy was not a walk in the park. As I'm now faced with trying to lose all of the weight from my second pregnancy, I thought I would share my story and a few thoughts for those of you that may be walking this same road of losing weight after baby.

When I was pregnant with Madeleine I gained a little over 50 pounds. I had a really challenging first trimester which prevented me from keeping up with any sort of exercise routine, but I also know I ate way more carbs and sweets than I should have. People (and my doctor) made comments about my weight gain, but I honestly felt helpless to do anything about it because my cravings for both the quantity of food I wanted to consume and the types of food I wanted to consume seemed so out of my control. I had a long and difficult birth with Madeleine, so it was a while before I was up for even the littlest amount of physical activity. At my 6-week check up my doctor told me I needed to wait an additional few weeks to heal before I could start exercising. When I finally healed, I started running but only kept that up for so long. I honestly didn't do anything too structured to try to lose the weight: we tried Whole30 (and failed miserably!) and I tried counting calories, but neither of those was sustainable for me. Like I said, I seriously struggle with self-control, and I just didn't want to change how I was eating and sacrifice my normal diet.

It took me four months to get within 15 pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight, but it took another six months for me to finally lose those last 15 pounds and hit my goal. I lost an additional 2 pounds to lose a total of 55 pounds in 11 months. And then I found out I was pregnant two weeks later. My second pregnancy was more challenging than my first, and even though I was throwing up a lot in the first trimester, I was constantly starving and eating everything in sight. Again, I made poor eating choices because I felt so miserable, and I couldn't keep up with any exercise. In my second pregnancy I gained 55 pounds.

My recovery after Cora's birth (her birth story to come at some point, I promise!) has been so much easier than with Madeleine. I've been out walking already, and it feels so great to be moving and exercising! I've lost 20 pounds so far, but I have a long way to go. It's really daunting to be back in this same spot looking down a long road of trying to lose so much weight and working to fit into my normal clothes. It's easy to feel discouraged when I compare myself to other young moms who seem to lose the weight easily. It's easy to make healthy choices one day, only to have a rough night with little sleep and give into the temptation to eat three cookies the next day. It's easy to feel depressed when I feel like I have nothing wear. It's easy to feel like I'm never going to get my old body back, so what's the point. It's easy to feel bitter about the toll childbearing takes on my body, instead of joyfully giving of my body for my children. I think it's probably safe to say that I'm not alone in having these feelings. Pregnancy, childbirth, life with a newborn, life adjusting to multiple kids - these are all very real and very hard things, and losing a lot of weight after and in the midst of them is challenging!

I once read that self-control is just empathy with your future self, and that's really ringing true for me right now. It seems like I just lost 55 pounds, so I remember so clearly how both the struggle and the success felt. It's a little easier for me to make healthier choices this time around. I'm motivated to make exercising more of a priority. I have no idea if losing 55 pounds this time will take less than or longer than 11 months, but I'm trying to be patient with myself and the process. I've been thinking a lot about this passage, which I read in Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches this week:

"...realize that your body is a testimony to the world of God's design.

Carry the extra weight joyfully until you can lose it joyfully. Carry the 

scars joyfully as you carry the fruit of them. Do not resent the damages that 

your children left on your body...your body can more fully praise God having 

been used for His purposes. So don't resent it, enjoy it."

Cora's Nursery Inspiration

We are this close to being finished with Cora's nursery, but I thought I would share some of the ideas that inspired me along the way! 

The feel of the room: I wanted a bright, airy nursery with lots of white and pops of bright colors. 

I found all of these nurseries to be so pretty and cheerful.

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Pops of color in storage & decor: I had my heart set on those sheets, and I knew I wanted baskets in the room for storage. I was also thinking about having a dreamcatcher instead of a mobile.

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Art for the gallery wall: This tends to be the hardest thing for me... I am so picky! I loved the look of the type on these prints, and I also liked the idea of bringing in some fruit prints to the gallery wall.

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So there you have it - the overall look and feel I was going for, along with some of the specific pieces I had my eye on! Once Cora's room is all the way finished, I will be sharing photos here!

Welcome to the world, sweet girl

I am thrilled to introduce our daughter Cora Elizabeth. She was born Saturday, January 21 at 1:44 PM, weighing 7 lbs 7 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. She is the sweetest little girl, and we are so in love.

DIY Matching Game

Last week I shared a picture of the matching game I made Madeleine on Instagram, and I got a lot of feedback and interest in how I made it! I thought I would share it here, as well.

One of my 2016 goals was to learn to sew. I have a sewing machine and my mom has offered many times to teach me how to sew, but I have always told her I didn't want to learn until I had kids. So last year was the year! I really wanted to make Madeleine a matching game that would last, rather than the card matching games you can buy at the store. I also wanted a really pretty game that could be a keepsake and could be passed down to her kids, etc.

This is the majority of the pieces - there are 40 in total (20 pairs). It was so much fun picking out the different fabrics! This is a project that requires a lot of cutting, as there are several different pieces for each finished square piece. My mom helped me with a lot of the sewing part, and I'm so happy with how it turned out. There are definitely some uneven lines and crooked seams (because of me, not my mom), but I love it. I think it's so pretty, and I'm excited for Madeleine to learn how to find matches on her own.

If you'd like to make your own game, here are the instructions. They were easy to follow, and I did pretty much what they said except for choosing a variety of my own fabric bundles. 

On Making Baby Food

I've never understood why people make such a big deal about homemade baby food. It's cooking and smashing up food; how hard can it be? When we started Madeleine on solids, I made the majority of her baby food. It's not because I have an issue with store-bought baby food; as Madeleine has progressed and developed in her eating, I have also given her a lot of baby foods from the store. At the beginning I decided to make a lot of my own simply because I had the time, it was easy to do, and I found that I actually enjoyed it! 

If you're wanting to make your own baby food, all you need is a food processor and small containers or ice cube trays to freeze the baby food. They do make special baby food makers, but I hate owning one-function appliances, and I found that my food processor worked just fine. I used both ice cube trays and these baby food freezer containers; you just need to be able to freeze smaller portions of the baby food so you can take out just what you need for the day and store the rest in the freezer.

I found that it was easy to just purchase extra of whatever produce I was already buying for my meals that week, or if there was specific produce on sale that I knew Madeleine would be eating, I would also buy that. 

There are a ton of resources on how to make baby food and when to introduce what, etc. The site that I referenced the most was Wholesome Baby Food. All of the recipes were categorized by stages of baby food, so it was easy to see what foods I should be introducing next. Obviously first get information from your pediatrician about when to introduce solids, how much to feed your baby, how long to wait in between new foods, etc! But once you've got a good handle on the whole process, this is a great site for recipes and reminders on what your baby should be trying next.

If you're hoping to make your own baby food, I hope these few tips were helpful! 

5 Products I'm Using Every Day

Popping in on this Wednesday with another 5 Products I'm Using Every Day post...

ban.do agenda // Back in the fall I wrote a post on my favorite agendas, and I just have to say that I am loving having a planner again! I keep it on the desk in my office, and I am using it each day for reminders, plans, upcoming appointments, etc. I also am using it to keep track of my yearly and monthly goals, which is a great place for it.

The Honest Company multi-surface cleaner // I am a fanatic about wiping off my countertops, and I am loving using this spray. I can rest easy knowing it's safe for Madeleine, and I also use it on her high chair tray. It smells good, which is a big factor to me in whether I will actually use a product or not.

babyganics face, hand, & baby wipes // Again, I love using a product that I know is safe for Madeleine. I use these wipes on her face and hands after she's finished eating. Side note: why do babies absolutely hate having their mouths wiped off??

Urban Decay Original Eye Shadow Primer Potion // This eye shadow primer is amazing. It keeps my eye shadow looking fresh all day, but the biggest difference I've been able to tell is that my eye liner doesn't fade away and look smeared. A little touch of this goes a long way in helping my makeup's staying power.

Sharpie Pens // I've been using these pens for years. They write smoothly, but I really love them because they don't bleed through pages. I am one to frequently underline in the books I'm reading, so I love that it's colorful but doesn't bleed through - even on the thin pages of my Bible!

Madeleine // 8 months

It's so hard to believe Madeleine is 8 months old! Time seems to be going by faster and faster. Here's a little 5-8 month update on our girl...

Just a couple of days after turning 5 months, Madeleine got up on her hands and knees and started rocking! She started scooting around soon after that, and she started sitting up on her own and crawling right after she turned 6 months. Girl loves to be on the go! Madeleine also started laughing around 5 months and gives us the best baby belly laughs. She started pulling up to her knees right before 7 months and is now pulling up on everything. She is just beginning to start cruising. She loves to explore and get into everything!

Some of the sweetest moments have been in these past few months. Madeleine started saying mama and dada, which of course we love. I still remember the first time she reached her arms out and wanted me to pick her up, which totally melted my heart. Madeleine loves reading books, and she's even grabbed a book, crawled over to me, and sat in my lap for me to read it. It's so fun that she's starting to be able to communicate in her own way.

After a bit of a rough start, she's now doing really well with eating solids. She likes pretty much everything she's eaten except for mango and avocado. It seems like it may be more of a texture thing. Another big change is Madeleine is completely weaned! She loves her bottle!

Madeleine is still doing really well with her schedule. She's been on pretty much the same eating and sleeping schedule since she was 8 weeks old; that's what has worked for her and our family, and we are so thankful for it! She has been such a good baby! She is a happy girl and she brings us so much joy!

Holiday Gift Guide // for the babies

It's been a little while since I've put together a gift guide, so I decided it's time! This is the first in a mini-series of holiday gift guides for the people in your world. First up - babies! Arguably the most fun to buy for, since everything is so stinking adorable, and babies pretty much love anything they can get their hands on. Here goes:

A sweet robin rattle to shake to their heart's content.

Pretty moccasins, because every baby looks adorable in them. 

A classic board book to read to them over and over again. 

A gorgeous quilt, that they will eventually pass down to their own baby.

The softest bunny for snuggling.

The best teether you will ever see, for the (never-ending!) teething phase.

A sleek wooden baby gym for playtime. 

(bonus: 10% off with code HAPPYHOLIDAYS2015)

Wooden mirror with flaps, since every baby is a little vain.

Perfect tote for baby gear

I've always been one to have quite a collection of totes + purses, but becoming a mother has taken that to an entirely new level. There is just so much stuff!!! Even with us trying to be as minimalist as possible, the amount of gear that comes with a baby is ridiculous. I have my eye on this tote from Brim Papery. It'd be perfect for schlepping diapers, wipes, and other baby necessities during all of our travels this holiday season, don't you think?

On Running with a Baby

I've concluded that running with a baby has to be one of the most taxing of exercises. Let's think about this for a moment. You're pushing a baby in a stroller. For me, that means a 15-pound baby, a 25-pound stroller, and a 10-pound carseat. I'll do the math for you: that's 50 pounds I'm pushing up and down hills. On top of all of the weight you're pushing, you're carrying all of the weight that's still clinging to you from being pregnant with that now 15-pound baby. (I'll spare you the details on exactly how much that still is for me.) And, if you're breastfeeding, you're also carrying along your baby's next meal.

So we've got a 50-pound load you're pushing, extra weight you're carrying from pregnancy, plus essentially a picnic for the baby strapped to your chest. And, if you're like me who barely exercised during pregnancy, you are pretty out of shape.

All of that is physically demanding and quite a workout. Now let's add in the mental workout of this situation. As you're running through your neighborhood, smiling and waving at neighbors and for the love just trying to push that dang stroller up that hill, you are also constantly aware of what your baby is doing and anticipating what your baby might need. Ok she just spit up, grab the burp cloth and wipe that nastiness off her little chin. Oh no, she's starting to fuss. Quick! put the toy snail in her hand. Ok that's not working, squeeze the snail's head a few times so it squeaks. Ok whew, she smiled. We're good.

And then, right when you've finished a couple of miles and you're starting to get a cramp in your side, the baby finally falls asleep. And so you just keep running. Because, sleeping baby. That elusive evening catnap finally won over the fussy baby and you can't stop running now. You run a couple more miles so that the baby will sleep and wake up ready to play happily during dinnertime.

And then when you put the baby down for bed that night and finally have a chance to log your exercise into your weight-loss app, you do a happy dance when you realize you have just enough calories left to treat yourself to a tiny bowl of Häagen-Dazs mint chip ice cream. And in that moment, you decide those extra miles were totally worth it.

Madeleine // 4 months

Since becoming parents, what we've been told more than anything is that time goes by so quickly. We can't even believe how true that has been. A year ago yesterday we found out that I was pregnant, and today our sweet Madeleine turns 4 months old! It has gone by so incredibly fast. 

We love this girl more than words can say! She was an extremely squirmy infant, and she has only gotten more and more wiggly! Madeleine does not like to sit still and loves to play, be read to, be sung to, and just be with her Mommy and Daddy. She loves being outside and gives us the best smiles. Madeleine adjusted to a good schedule early on, and that has helped her to be a very happy and content baby. After a rough start to nursing, we are very thankful that she is now a good eater! She also has been sleeping through the night since she was 11 weeks old. This girl makes us laugh so many times a day. Our lives our fuller because of Madeleine, and we praise God for giving her to us!

Madeleine's Birth Story

Madeleine Ruth

If you're one of those people who loves reading other people's birth stories, I can totally relate. I've always loved reading birth stories, but as I was anticipating the birth of Madeleine I especially scoured the internet looking for (mostly positive) birth stories to encourage/motivate me. To read Madeleine's birth story in its entirety (longest. post. ever.), click through. If you want the condensed version, here you go:

I went into labor 8 days before my due date. I was in labor for 19 hours. I pushed for 3 hours. I didn't have an epidural or any other pain medication. My "birth plan" did not go quite according to plan, as I'm sure most don't. But at the end I got my beautiful baby girl in my arms.

On Pregnancy: The Things People Say

One of the things that never ceased to amaze me during my pregnancy was what people (somehow) felt comfortable saying to me. I had childless people tell me how labor and delivery was going to be, other moms tell me what my pregnancy was going to be like, and more people that I can count comment on my growing belly, my swollen feet, my diet, etc etc. It was super annoying and a lot of times downright rude, and I just had to force myself to brush it off and even laugh. The most irritating thing was that people thought they had a right to comment on my body, just because I was pregnant. I do not go up to fat people and tell them they should diet; I do not comment on how other people's clothes do or do not fit them well; I do not bring up the subject of another person's body shape/type every. single. time. I see them. Let's not do that to pregnant women, either! If you feel the urge to say something to a pregnant woman (especially one with whom you are not close), please think before you speak! And say something kind, like what an exciting time for you! or you are glowing! or you look wonderful! In the mean time, here are a few of the things people said to me over the past 9 months, for your reading pleasure :)

[after announcing at work that I was pregnant]

Female co-worker: Oh! So that's why you've been eating so much lately!

[at Thanksgiving dinner]
My 5 year-old niece: Are you getting your baby from China?
Me: No...

Female co-worker: I knew you were having a girl! Do you want to know how I knew?

Me: How?

Co-worker: Because your face has gotten VERY round.

Lady at church: Congratulations! When are you due?
Me: Thank you! June 13.
Lady: I usually am hesitant to say anything this early on, but you're just so skinny everywhere else!

Female co-worker: Are those new jeans?
Me: No. 

Co-worker: Oh wow! You're still fitting into your old jeans?

Me: Oh, no. These are maternity jeans.

Co-worker: Oh I was going to say - you'd be doing pretty good if you were still wearing your old jeans!

Me: Actually, I do think I'm doing pretty good. [I'm 20 weeks pregnant, thankyouverymuch, and I don't think I should still be wearing pre-pregnancy skinny jeans.]

My other 5 year-old niece: Aunt Sherri, have you ever had a baby before?
Me: No! This is my first baby! You would know if I had another baby.
My 6 year-old niece: But are you going to even know how to take care of it?

[at my 24-week appointment]

Doctor: Your weight gain is a little excessive. 

Me: [silence]

Stranger in the ladies' restroom at church: Oh wow, you are coming along!

Me: Yes, I'm 32 weeks!

Stranger: And you're sure it's not twins?
Me: Yep, I'm sure.

[at my 32-week appointment]

Doctor: Have we discussed your weight gain before? 

Me: Yes.

Client at the office: When are you due? Tomorrow?

Me: Six weeks.

And then there was the sweet young mom behind me in line at Target, two days before I delivered, who said, "I know you probably feel terrible right now, but you look so cute!" Please be one of those kind souls and make a pregnant lady's day :) 

Welcome to the world, little girl

I am so thrilled to introduce our precious little girl Madeleine Ruth. She was born Friday, June 5 at 7:17 PM, weighing 7 lbs 7 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. We could not be more in love with her!

House Tour: Nursery

I'm so excited to share pictures of the nursery today! This was by far my favorite room to decorate in our house. Mostly because it meant getting ready for our little girl! Click through to see more pictures...

On Pregnancy: The Books I'm Reading

The market is over-saturated with books to read while pregnant, which makes it difficult to narrow it down to what you really want to read. I am a big reader, so it's no surprise that I enjoyed reading books on pregnancy and parenting. I thought I would share what I've been reading, for those that find browsing on Amazon a bit overwhelming. 

1 // Getting Ready to Get Pregnant // I read this when we were thinking about trying to get pregnant (duh). I actually ended up reading the book twice, once when I thought I might be ready (I wasn't) and then again when I actually was ready. The whole premise of the book is to begin taking care of your body before pregnancy even begins, which I totally agree with. There were helpful chapters on nutrition and stress relief, as well as preparing your home and environment to be healthy and clean. I thought it was worth reading, remembering that you can do your best to be healthy and prepare your body for pregnancy, but it doesn't guarantee a healthy baby or pregnancy.

2 // Great with Child // When I was first pregnant, I didn't want to read anything about the actual pregnancy. I didn't want to read statistics or see a list of everything that could possibly go wrong with me, the baby, or my pregnancy. So I picked up this book, which I remembered Joanna raved about on Cup of Jo. It's a book of letters written to a newly pregnant friend, so it includes sweet memories, honest feedback on mothering, etc. I really enjoyed reading it, and it made me focus on motherhood and the wonderful gift of pregnancy rather than worrying about things.

3 // Bringing Up Bébé // Everyone who has ever read anything about parenting has certainly heard of this book and all of the hype surrounding it. In looking back at my Amazon orders, I bought this book precisely three days after finding out I was pregnant(!), and I have to agree with all of the hype. I loved reading about parenting in another culture and was particularly struck by the chapters on sleeping, eating, and waiting. There were a lot of good principles that we plan on incorporating into our scheduling of the baby and parenting. Highly recommend!

4 // On Becoming Baby Wise // This book is somewhat controversial in the parenting world, but I really liked it. Both of my sisters scheduled all (seven!) of their babies, and their kids slept through the night at a very early age, had predictable schedules, and were generally happy babies. We are planning on doing a lot of the same things that my sisters did, and this book is a good source of information. If you like the idea of a schedule for your baby, my sister also broke down her method in a very helpful blogpost here.

5 // The Birth Book // When I was looking into hiring a doula, the one I interviewed highly recommended this book as preparation for a natural labor and delivery. We took a birthing class, so a lot of the information in the book I already had learned from the class. What I found the most helpful from this book, though, was the emphasis on not fearing labor, how to relax during labor, and the options for different laboring and birthing positions. If you are interested in learning about how to manage a natural birth, I would recommend checking this book out.

What books have you read on pregnancy, birth, or parenting?

On Pregnancy: Taking a Babymoon

Last month we took a babymoon to Savannah! You can click through to see more pictures, if you'd like...

On Pregnancy: The First Trimester

8 1/2 weeks

People have asked me if this space is going to turn into a "mommy blog", and the answer is no. I do not plan on exclusively writing about diapers, feeding, and my baby. I will, however, write about my baby and motherhood and any of the other things that this new stage of life ushers in, just as I write about many aspects of my life now. The baby posts will just be in addition to all of the other posts. With that said, this is the first post in my pregnancy series, beginning with my first trimester. This is mostly for my sake to look back on in the future, but click through if you're interested!

Our Christmas Card + An Announcement

We are so excited to announce that we have a baby on the way! Our friends and extended families heard the announcement by way of our Christmas card this year :) We are so incredibly thankful for this answer to prayer, and we could not be more excited! I have been pretty sick these first few months, which is another reason why I've been so quiet around here. In the last couple of days I've started to feel a little better, so I'm hoping I'm turning the corner and will be somewhat back to normal soon. In the mean time I'm snacking all day long and trying to get everything done in time for Christmas (how did Christmas get here so fast this year?!). Hope you are enjoying this Christmas season! xx