Spring Is Here

I have been drooling over all the new Gap baby goodness. It is a good thing Channing doesn't fit in 0-3 month clothes yet or my Halette would be hurting. With warmer weather on it's way (or maybe never in Colorado), here are some of our Spring style favorites!

Gap girl clothes are absolutely adorable. They have the cutest styles. I don't know how many times I have been tempted to buy some outfits in hopes for a future (far future) baby girl to dress.

Gap is always having sales so although the original price is high, there's a good chance you can find it cheaper. Right now you can get 30% off online with coupon code GAPTREAT

{ Monthly Photos } 2 months

In one month you:

-Still are in new born clothes, only  a few of your 0-3 month photos fit

-you take anywhere from 30 min naps to 3 hour naps.

- You longest stretch of sleep at night is still 4 - 5 hours

- you are smiling and babbling so much

- you laughed for the first time, you can sit up so much better with support.

- you now like baths

At your two month check up:

- you weighed 10 lbs 1 oz

- You are now 22.5 inches long

- You have a herniated belly button which will go away on its own by 6 months.

- You are very healthy and growing just like you should. 

Dear Channing,

 

Another month under your belt! Good work, little fella! This month was a lot like last month, only with a lot more crying in the daytime. Phew! You are giving me a run for my money. It’s that infant fussy stage that is the culprit, I’ll bet.

I’m finding out about patience and staying calm. You do seem to like to sleep in your pack n play in the dark room during the day; you like to sleep every 1.30 hours of wakefulness. If I miss this window, you tend to stay awake and yell. You can be a terror to get down for naps and just want to keep taking everything in.

On the happy side of things, you have been falling asleep by 8:00pm, and you don’t wake up until your next meal at around 12:00am or so. And then you sleep another 3-4 hrs, ready to eat again. This is wonderful!! Thanks for that. It’s in your best interest to cry during the day if you are going to be fussy at all. 

In case you are wondering later, you seem to have a very sweet disposition overall. When you aren’t fighting sleep, you are so serene and soft. You peer around at everything and seem to just take it all in. You like to mimic the noises and faces we make at you. You’ll top it off with a little grin.

All I know for sure is I’m so lucky and excited to hold your hand in this journey of yours. I like to look down at your face during your mid-night feeding, and think about all the wondrous things you have ahead of you. So many firsts are coming your way. You have no idea how exciting it all is yet.Growing up is hard work and I’m so glad I get to be here for it and cheer you on.

I’m so excited to get to know you more and more each day, each one part of a greater gift that reveals itself slowly over time. You’ll never be two months old again. For that I am sad. But I get to witness and share in the very sweetest of your years. How great is that? I thank God every single day for the treasure that is you and the time we have ahead together. How do you suppose that of all the little boys in the universe I got the best one?

Love,

Moma

{weekly photos} 8 Weeks Old

Channing turned 8 weeks old on Tuesday. He is cooing and babbling alot more. He is most talkative when he first wakes up in the morning. The rest of the day it is hit or miss because he is fussy from fighting sleep. Getting this guy on a schedule is impossible. For now we are just happy to get him down for a nap with our a huge crying fit. From what I have read this is pretty normal but plan to talk to the Doctor today at Channing's 2 month checkup. There has to be something we can do to help him go to sleep with out fighting it. On Tuesday Channing sat in his bumbo for the first time. He has been holding his head up for awhile now but he wasn't big enough to sit in the seat. He also laughed for the first time on Tuesday as well. We were laying in bed with him after he woke up and I guess I looked funny. It was the cutest laugh ever. We have tried everything to get him to do it again. He is not having it. He just looks at us like we are idiots. :/

Post baby body

Let's be real.... I am not an actress nor a model. From the side I look like a normal healthy human being. From straight on is a total different story. No one tells you that after the baby is here the left over weight is carried in a way you never thought possible for you body. IT SUCKS!!! You're still fat. You will need new clothes after you've had this kid because you'll be sort of second trimester doughy for a while. This is yet another reason I hate those damn models and actresses that are wafer thin 10 minutes after they've given birth because it isn't realistic. Everything is very different when you can hand your baby off to a nanny and have a personal trainer up in your face everyday. Pilates and brown rice my ass. Stupid starlets. Except Heidi Klum. I love Heidi Klum and that bitch earned her wings. Society puts unneeded pressure on us mom's to lose weight and look fab the min the baby pops out. For some reason we let this happen and it's just not far to us.

Even looking at other Mommy bloggers it seems the only ones that actually have postpartum body posts had super hott body's and amazing genes to begin with. I unfortunately, like many, have not had this luxury. I think it is important to get real with ourselves and see what it is really like after having a baby. Not what its like for the rich and famous or the lucky ones. This is why I will start making bi-weekly posts on my progress to get my pre-baby body back. Let me just warn you. I am going to be self critical because I know what my body can look like. I also know what kind of work I had to put in to lose close to 35lbs before I even had a baby. Having to lose weight all over again sucks hard core!!! It's depressing and pisses me off all at the same time.

This is what my stomach looked like when I found out I was pregnant.

This is what it looked like 4 days after having Channing.

and 7 weeks postpartum 

I have lost 15 lbs so far. This is pretty annoying because I was under the impression you leave the hospital losing at least this much. I still have between 20 - 25 lbs to lose. I think breastfeeding has helped to a certain point but not a whole lot :(

I think the hardest thing to deal with is the weight I am carrying in my lower stomach. I have never had an issue with love handles or a muffin top. It is very frustrating trying to find something to wear. I have two pair of pants that fit. The rest look so gross on if I can even get them over my hips.  I went to the mall the other day hoping to get a pair of pants and a pair of shorts. It was an epic failure!!! I was a size 6/8 before the baby. I thought a 10 would work...HAHA. Man did I feel like crap when I put those on. My fat and loose skin still hung over. There was no way I was buying a size 12. I decided I would just have to deal with the pants that fit and just wear dresses all summer long. 

Is it weird at that moment I wanted the pregnant body back?! At least it was an excuse to have a tummy. I guess the fact I just had a baby is an excuse as well :/ The important thing for me is to look good and feel good in my clothes. I know they say give yourself 9 months to take off the weight and it can take a year for your hips to go back to normal.

Here is my game plan for losing the weight:

1. eat healthy - this has been hard. I could care less for real food right now but could devour sweets for every meal. I also tend to not eat enough which has a huge problem for me when trying to lose weight. I plan on posting some yummy healthy recipes I have tried on pinterest.

2. exercise - I want to get back into exercising slowly. I can't afford to be extremely sore when taking care of Channing. I have been doing some small circuit training exercising and doing Tracy Anderson's Post pregnancy videos. Once the weather is nicer I plan on getting in some daily walks with Channing. 

My biggest challenge right now is finding the time to exercise. Our little guy fights sleep all day long. This makes for a long day. When I do get him down for a nap I usually am trying to get stuff done around the house. In the end I think I am going to have to find exercises I can do while baby wearing.

I'd love to hear what any of you have done to rid yourself of the extra baby weight.

one and two month favorites

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As promised, a list of things I could not live without in the first few months with out little guy.

Miracle Blanket - This thing is the bomb!! Channing was an escape artist until this blanket. We have lots of swaddling blankets but they just wouldn't keep his arms in.  He never gets his arms out of this one and sleeps so much better.

Miracle Blanket

Aveeno Baby Lotion - This is the only lotion that we have tried so far that doesn't break out our little guy. It also does wonders on clearing up baby acne and rashes. I apply it a few times a day when a rash is coming on and by the end of the day it is all cleared up.

Aveeno Baby Lotion

Bobby - We used this from day one. It is great for breastfeeding. Channing also loves snuggling in it for short naps during the day. You can also position it around their feet when they are sleeping. It helps then feel more secure. 

Bobby

Changing Pad Liners - Seriously everyone needs a few of these! The liners are so much easier then having to change the changing pad cover and washing it every time there is an accident. Just simply throw on a new liner. It also protects your cover from fading from all those washes you would have to do other wise.

Changing Pad Liners

Exfoliating Cleansing Towelettes - When you have a baby around some times taking the time to wash and exfoliate your face is impossible. These are from target and their up & up brand. They come in cucumber and apricot (smells so yummy). They work wonders at removing makeup. The fact they exfoliate at the same time is a major plus.

Up & Up Exfoliating Cleansing Towelettes

My Little Lamb Platinum Edition Swing - This swing has been a life saver. It keeps Channing entertained long enough so I can get some things done. He really likes the projected light up stars and lambs. A major plus is you can plug it in to save on batteries.

My Little Lamb Platinum Edition Swing

Naked Juice - These are packed with fruits and veggies, they are filling and sooo yummy. With being so busy with a baby  these are my meals on most days.

I hope this is helpful for first time and soon to be mommas. 

And just for fun a picture of our little guy. Isn't he cute!!

{ weekly baby pictures } 5, 6, and 7 weeks

Man has he grown in 7 weeks and were has the time gone! Our little guy is spending alot more time awake. He enjoys sitting in his swing and checking out the surroundings. He recently discovered the TV. It keeps him entertained longer than anything. Naps are not his thing. He fights them and as the day goes on it gets worse.  He is still waking up 2-3 times during the night. Which isn't bad because he falls right back to sleep on most occasions. I can't believe he is almost 2 months old. Time goes way to fast.

1 month checkup

Channing had his one month checkup last week, and to my suprise now wieghs 8lbs 2 oz. I knew he was putting on some weight but didn't expect the 8 lb mark. He has is now 20.5" long. Our Dr. was pleased with his weight gain. Channing is currently measuring in the 18 - 20 percentile.

We start shots at next months checkup. I really am not looking forward to this. I am just hoping he handles it well and doesn't feel super crappy afterwards. 

Now for some cuteness! :)