The 8-Week Get-in-Shape-to-Knock-My-Coworkers-Socks-Off Workout Plan

I've been lucky to lose all of my pregnancy weight (plus some) in the past almost-eight months. I attribute it to breastfeeding, a handful of workouts, eating healthy, and cutting out dairy for almost half of that time. I actually think cutting out dairy was a HUGE help, because without dairy, I was without my milk chocolate, Doritos (throw some Doritos on a baking sheet, top with pepperjack cheese, melt in the oven and DEVOUR), and pizza (three things I love).

But, even though I have lost the weight, my body is still definitely different than it was pre-baby. I have loose skin and my butt pretty much disappeared (what's up with that?!). My chest is significantly bigger than it used to be, which wasn't that hard to do since I was pretty tiny to begin with. All this means that my clothes fit differently than they used to.

So, I'm on a mission. I have 8 weeks until I start working again. I want to be able to walk into school and my classroom feeling great about myself, confident and collected. So for the next 8 weeks I'm going to really put forth an effort to tone up my body. I know I can't do much about the loose skin. For that I will just have to wait and hope that it tightens back up. But I can strengthen my core and my arms and my legs, and hopefully bring some of my butt back :)

The 8-Week Get-in-Shape-to-Knock-My-Coworkers-Socks-Off Workout Plan

Week One
Cardio: 20 minutes; 5 times weekly (starting small, hoping to build on that time. Tonight it was a walk in the neighborhood after dinner with Adelaide and Kevin.)
Crunches: 10x
Leg Lift Crunch Thingies with a Twist a la The Situation: 10x
Push ups: 10x
Triceps Dips: 10x
Squats: 10x
Add in a lot of goofing off and laughing with your husband (not optional).

So I figure I'll be able to do this for at least 8 weeks, right? I mean, if even I stop after I return to work, at least I have this small, more manageable goal that I can work towards (and accomplish!). I'll keep you posted. Wish me luck that I can actually keep up with this workout plan!

Oh, and just because, a photo of my cutie pie. She rarely lounges on me like that anymore. I soak it up when I can. Can you believe how big she is???

How we dealt with our first real diaper rash.

In Adelaide's nearly 8 months, we've only had to deal with diaper rash a couple of times. It's always been really mild, and one application of Beaudreaux's Butt Paste does the trick at clearing it up. (We use a disposable liner when we use diaper cream so that it doesn't affect the absorbancy of our cloth diapers... otherwise we'd have to strip them and that's a long process that's even longer with a forgetful, busy mama.)

Well, Tuesday night we experienced a very hurting baby with a very red, inflammed diaper rash. I saw the rash, which still looked pretty mild, before I put her night diaper on, so I put some Butt Paste on her and assumed it'd clear up like usual. We put her down for bed around 7:30, and I attempted to cut her nails as she slept. I've done this every couple of weeks forever and she's never woken up, but of course this time she did. And she was AWAKE From that moment on, she was extremely fussy.

She'd been pooping a little with every diaper change... I guess just still trying to figure out her system. But she started screaming every time she peed or pooped. Like I'm-in-pain-and-I-HURT kind of screaming. I changed her diaper and noticed the rash was bright red and warm. And by the time I went to wipe her, she was red in the face, shaking because her bottom hurt so bad.

I felt terrible. I had no idea what to do to make her feel better. She couldn't go back to sleep. Didn't really want to nurse. I ended up wearing her in the Boba and taking a walk to try and lull her to sleep. Kevin came with me and I couldn't help but remember all those walks with Adelaide in the Moby so many months ago, trying to get her newborn-self to take naps. It didn't work this time, but she was at least content in the Boba.

She finally went to sleep around midnight. But woke up again around 2 and was up until almost 4. Then we were able to sleep in until 10, thankfully, and her rash was a lot better in the morning, but still definitely red, inflammed, and sore.

I did some research and although I don't know for sure what caused it, it's either a) my eating dairy for the first time in over two months, or b) a Carrot-Tomato blend of Earth's Best Organic jarred food. I knew that tomatoes were acidic, but I thought since the jar said 6+ months and tomatoes were low on the ingredient list that it would be fine. Maybe it was a combination of the two. Her rash wasn't what was described for an allergy reaction, with the "allergy ring" around the anus, but instead red from front to back.

And as the days passed and it started to clear, I saw little blisters. They're almost completely gone now, but geez. I felt so bad for my little girl.

Here's what we did to clear up the rash:

1. LOTS and LOTS of naked, diaper-free time. Heat and moisture are a diaper rash's enemies, so by letting her "air it out" we were preventing the atmosphere to worsen the rash.

2. During a diaper change, we didn't use wipes. Instead, we used a bottle filled with warm water to wash her off, then we patted her bottom dry with a clean cloth. I can only imagine how sore her bottom was. I just know that after childbirth when my bottom was so sore, I didn't wipe either. Just spray and pat dry.

3. Every time I put a new diaper on her, I made sure to reapply the diaper rash cream, to protect her rash from any pee or poo. I went through a bunch of cream, but it did help.

4. Lots of love and cuddles. Of course, when your kid isn't feeling good, you instinctly give them more attention... and that's what I did. I don't know that it made the rash any better, but I do know that it made Adelaide happy to have extra attention from mama.

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Here's a good resource for diaper rash information: Dr. Sears website.

Have any of you battled a tough diaper rash? Any tips in case this happens again?

Asheville Trip (family, first hotel night, splashing in the creek!)

Last weekend we took a trip to Asheville. Kevin had a drum workshop with a master drummer on Sunday so we decided to make a little vacation of it. I love going to the mountains. I swear I just feel different when I'm there. I little lighter, a little more at home. The drive isn't too bad from here in Charlotte, and before we knew it we were there. Thankfully Adelaide slept for a good bit of it, and didn't cry too much in the carseat that she is unfortunately beginning to hate.

We stopped at the big farmer's market first, since we got into town so early and couldn't check in yet. I tried to nurse Adelaide first, but there were too many people nearby and a guy playing the fiddle. I think she took two sips and was done. I couldn't resist getting a couple shots of my little cutie on the benches though!







We spent a good chunk of Saturday with Kevin's sister and husband. She's pregnant with her first (yay!) and due in January. It's so exciting to think that Adelaide and her cousin will only be 13 months apart in age! I can just imagine all the fun adventures and secrets they will share.



Adelaide and Uncle Paul


Adelaide and Aunt Meaghann
Saturday was also Adelaide's first time at a hotel! She did wonderfully, though she was a bit tired as soon as we ended up checking in. We had a king-sized bed, which was so awesome. Having all that room to spread out! It sure makes our queen-sized bed seem really small.



We didn't get much sleep, but Sunday was great anyhow. We first visited some friends, and then headed to downtown Asheville so that Kevin could go to his workshop. Adelaide fell asleep on the way into town from the hotel, so I just dropped Kevin off and drove in circles for a little while, finally parking and waiting for her to wake up (I'm sure some of you parents can relate!). When she did wake up, I popped her in the Boba and took off walking. Had some lunch at our wedding cake bakery (first cheese in 2.5 months!), and then explored downtown shops. It was HOT and I was carrying a heatbox right on me... we were both sweating by the time Kevin got out of his workshop.

We met up with Meaghann and Paul again and drove over to Bent Creek for some fun in the water. Have I mentioned Adelaide LOVES the water? She had a blast splashing in the creek... and you can't deny that her chubby body isn't the cutest!









Hmm... let me taste this reed...


Not so tasty after all... blech!




Fish in the water.


I'm surprised she was able to nurse at all! There were people playing in the water, dogs splashing in and out chasing balls... she did keep unlatching and looking around, but she got her fill! This may be my favorite nursing shot so far :)

Yummy Monday: Spinach and Chickpeas (+ baby food!)

This is a quick and delicious mash up of two super-healthy foods: spinach and chickpeas. (I know I've already done a chickpea recipe, but I did warn you that I love, love, love them!) I found the recipe in a vegan cookbook (totally don't remember the name) and made it a while ago and loved it. Then last week I wanted to make it again, but didn't have the recipe on me. I did what I could from memory, and it turned out a little differently but was still very tasty. Give it a try!

Oh, and at the end, I'll tell you what I did to let Adelaide have a little taste of the family meal too!

Spinach and Chickpeas

9ish ounces of spinach (I used regular spinach here, but baby spinach is better)
1-2 cans of chickpeas, depending on how much you like them!
1/2 cup of veggie broth
3-4 cloves (or more) garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon olive oil



Heat the olive oil and saute the crushed garlic for about a minute.



Add your chickpeas.



Add broth.



Let simmer for a couple of minutes. Use a potato masher or the back of a spoon to mash about half of the chickpeas.



Add spinach and wilt.



Look at the simple, healthy, messy goodness!



Plate it up! I cooked some brown rice topped with sauteed baby bella mushrooms to serve with it, plus a couple of yeast rolls. Not including waiting for the rice to cook all on its own in the rice cooker, I spent maybe 15 minutes from start to finish on this meal. Super quick and very delicious!




Baby Food Version

I saw this idea while blog hopping and loved it! Use a mason jar screwed in to the top of your blender instead of the big ole honkin' glass blender part for smaller servings of things! I am anticipating using this trick A LOT when I go back to work as morning smoothies are a definite breakfast option I turn to when I don't have time to sit down and eat (which I very well see as a part of my working mommy future)! Whip up a smoothie in a jar and boom! Take it to go! No dirtying up more dishes than you have to!



Anyhow, I just spooned a little bit of the Spinach and Chickpea mixture into the mason jar (just to try the idea out), pulsed the heck out of it, and this is what it turned into:



Then I actually did dirty up another dish because getting that little baby spoon down in the mason jar would've been a little difficult. But here it is, Adelaide-ready form:



Looks tasty, huh? I did try a bit and of course it tasted just like the grown up version. Adelaide wasn't a huge fan. I could see it in her face: Wha? Mama? What's this weird stuff? So I just spooned it into yet another, smaller, washed and reused baby food jar and stuck it in the freezer. I'll try again another day. And another and another if I have to!

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Interested in sharing a recipe? Shoot me an email - I'd love to feature you!

Friday Crafternoon v.6

It's already been another week??? Holy cow, time is flying. I can't believe it's August already!

Anyhow, we're leaving tomorrow a.m. for Asheville, a place that holds my heart. Well, not Asheville specifically, but the mountains. I went to college there, got married there, and someday I want to live there. I can picture myself in a remote cabin on a lot of land, growing a garden and tending chickens, with laundry drying in the sun, my baby (babies?) playing in the woods. Picturesque, ideal, and definitely doable in it's own time. Someday, someday.

Anyhow, I've actually been able to craft a little bit this week! I've made it a point to spend some time at the sewing machine, though I won't tell you what I've been working on exactly. I'm making a gift for someone, and I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. But the important thing is: I'm CREATING. And it feels GOOD.

Here's some crafty inspiration for you. I hope you find time to sit at your sewing machine, or with your paint, or scissors, or even in the kitchen... where ever you go to MAKE SOMETHING!



I picked up a ton of paint chips the other day, for this mobile idea and this art piece idea. I plan to work on the latter during our road trip this weekend!

I can totally see me wearing this necklace. And I can see how it would be a great project for some older kids... seems very camp-y to me.

I love this windchime! The bright colors, the patterns!

With all the storms lately, I'm sure there are some downed branches in the woods I could gather for a project like this! So pretty!

I love Shel Silverstein. When my bestie Hannah and I were teens, we stayed up super late one night cutting out letters and illustrations from construction paper to recreate "The Castle" by Shel on her bedroom wall. A lot of letters and a lot of taping later, it looked awesome! These stitched works reminded me of that!

Gorgeous. I've used sunprint paper to make a print of my engagement ring. And of course in my art classroom. This take on sunprinting is so pretty to me!

I can't wait to make toys for Adelaide (well, more advanced toys)... like this fishing game (though I hate real fishing).

Happy Weekend, Everyone!

Handmade gifts and natural toys.

When I was pregnant, I made sure to tell everyone who asked that if they wanted to get the baby toys, that we preferred toys made from natural materials. Wood, fabric, handmade, etc. I wanted to avoid the loud noisy obnoxious plastic toys that so many kids are inundated with today. I want my baby to experience play, not push a button and have things happen for her to stare and daze out to.

And for the most part, we've been able to keep our toys to a minimum. Yes, we have a few plastic toys. And yes, we have two toys that light up and play music and are generally kind of annoying. But they were gifts from well-meaning people, and also hand-me-downs. And Adelaide does really seem to enjoy them, when we let her play with them. We keep them to a minimum so she's not overwhelmed by the fast flashing lights or the constant stream of nursery rhymes.

Other than that, we have a lot of what I did want. Fabric toys, wooden toys, and books. Lots and lots and lots of books!








My stepmom recently sent us a package of handmade toys that she took the time to create for Adelaide. A set of 3 blocks with crinkly sides and tags, an amish puzzle ball, a fabric alphabet book, and my favorite, a cute simple doll using this pattern.






I laid out a quilt (also a thrifted gift from my stepmom) on the porch on a cool morning (where did those go???) and gave Adelaide the gifts. She seemed most intrigued by the crinkly blocks, and even still she loves to hit them and hear the self-made noise. It's nice to sit out on the porch with a book or a to-do list (ha.) while the baby plays. It's nice and quiet, peaceful, calm. I can't wait until this scorching heat passes so that we can enjoy it again!

Weekend. (And my baby hates the rain.)

So this past weekend, my little family took our 2nd road trip. A four-hour drive to my moma's house to see her, her boyfriend, my grandparents (again! Twice in one month!), and my cousin and his wife.

The trip started fine enough. She babbled in the backseat, chewed on some toys, and fell asleep. After 30 minutes or so, I noticed her head was tipped forward, chin on her chest, so I reached back to try and bring it back up. Mistake. She woke up, happy enough, so I thought it was alright. Then she was restless and got pretty fussy for the last bit of the trip.

We stopped in to see Hannah and Penelope, and as a nice bonus, her mom who I don't think I've seen in over 3 years! It was a quick visit, but really good. Penelope liked sharing and reading with Adelaide, and it was so cute to see how big Adelaide's gotten since the last time we got them two to sit next to each other!







From there, we went to my mom's. I think the drive really stressed Adelaide out, and then we were in a new place, and she met new people (my cousin and his wife). And also, they have 3 dogs. Adelaide hasn't really spent time with dogs before, only in passing on the street, where I make it a point to let her get on the dog's level and experience the dog. But these dogs were big and loud and unpredictable. All day Saturday she clung to me and was very unsure about the whole thing. She was pretty fussy, and I was stressed, having had a long day myself with the driving and visiting and no-napping.





Sunday was a ton better though. She woke up frequently in the night (teething? earache? gas? who knows...) but I was able to get her back to sleep immediately each time. And she actually slept in! And then after being up for a few hours, we both took a 2-hour nap was exactly what both of us needed. I love cuddling up to my baby. It will be a sad day when she no longer lets me do that. I will definitely miss our morning naps when I go back to work. :(





She warmed up to the dogs Sunday. We let her play on the floor with some lids and one of the dogs came close, licking Adelaide's face. She covered her face and wiped her eyes, and soon began doing that whenever the dog even looked at her! It was adorable. She even let a giggle escape!







Now, for the hating the rain part. It was raining when we left, and it wasn't long before Adelaide was crying. I was driving and Kevin was sitting in the back seat trying to play with her and keep her calm. She would settle, then cry again. Pacifier, new toys, etc. wouldn't keep her calm for long. Lots of Old MacDonald Had a Farm. She loves it when I sing and it keeps her calm pretty much as long as I can sing. But I couldn't sing forever because I had to concentrate on the road. It was raining so hard at times that I could barely see in front of me. At one point I hydroplaned... on a bridge. I almost had a panic attack after that. I have a fear of driving over bridges. I always think about how they can collapse and then I'd plummet to the water beneath. I'm always scared. So to have that happen freaked me out.

I started noticing a pattern with Adelaide's crying and the rain. When it was raining so hard that I could barely hear myself talk, when the rain was pounding on the car... that's when she was screaming. If the rain calmed down, so did she.

About an hour from the house, we pulled over because my nerves were shot. We switched spots, and without taking Adelaide out of the carseat, I leaned over and nursed her for a couple minutes. We'd already stopped previously for an actual feeding, but I knew she needed the comfort. And she did. Not 3 minutes after nursing her, she was smiling at me and cooing to her fluffy green monkey.

So, it's not that she hates the rain, I guess. But that she hates the deafening noise of the rain in the car. I felt terrible not being able to hold as her face reddened and got splotchy, but I did what I could with singing to her and pulling over to nurse her. One day she will understand the rain and why she has to be in a carseat.

All in all, it was good to see family, but I will definitely stress the next time we take a long car trip (next weekend, actually). Any tips from experienced mamas?