Deep Thoughts

In order to save time, is it OK to heat up a bottle in your morning coffee? He He

You're Living In Denial Fatty

I might be the only one with this issue but at the end of my pregnancy I was living in some serious denial of the sheer size of my body. I had always recognized that I wasn't one of those pregnant sticks with a volleyball on the front, but I wasn't huge either (that is what I told myself). I got to enjoy pregnancy in one of the hottest summers in state history so we spent a lot of quality time at the pool. I would see other unfortunate pregnant souls there as well and would say to my husband, "at least I'm not that big". He is a saint for just letting me think that. At some point I think I realized that I was kidding myself and that is probably what all of those ladies were saying about me!

Ashoo

The good news about motherhood is that your child will be a comedian and not even mean to! This weekend on a 2 hour road trip, our newborn sneezed in the car and Mommy said "bless you". A few minutes later, our 1-year-old starts making "ashooo" sounds and shaking her head until we said "bless you" to her. This continued the rest of the trip and we laughed every time. Now she follows up every real sneeze that she has with 2 fake ones. I can't wait to hear some of the things she'll say down the road : )

Helpful Tip #4

Avoid the mommy blogs that make you feel inadequate. Don't compare yourself to other moms. You are doing a great job no matter what you think!
There is always going to be someone out there making her own baby food from the organic vegetables she grew in her garden while also home schooling her 6 kids and looking beautiful for her man.....well at least that's what she'll tell you ; )

Joining the LPGA

Have you ever watched the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Assoc). tour? Well many of these ladies wear unflattering, too tight, pleated pants that result in an unsightly pooch in the front. My dad has affectionately titled it the "front butt" because it does in fact look like you have a butt on your front!
Well should you be fortunate enough to have a c-section, you can plan on having a front butt for a good long while afterwards. It's like having a separate entity attached to your tummy and is especially noticeable when you're sitting. I really think mine should have her own name like Olga or Doris. I guess it's a combination of scar tissue and swelling from surgery but it's in no hurry to leave you. I've lost 30 pounds since I had the 2nd baby and Doris is still hanging on for dear life.
So one Sunday afternoon if you flip over to ESPN 8 (the ocho) watch for me in my khaki, pleated dockers because I might just grab my husband's clubs and head out on tour.

Big Mama's House

Are you feeling discouraged about your pregnancy weight gain? This should help you feel better: during my first pregnancy I gained 50 pounds. I had a lot of swelling towards the end but either way you slice that pie, it's still a BIG pie.
One my second pregnancy, I gained the recommended 30 (but you should also know that I got pregnant about 3.5 months after my daughter was born so I still had a pesky 19 pounds hanging on). So both times I arrived right at my magic pregnancy number.
Now begins the process of losing the weight. If I had given birth to a 5th grader, I'd probably already be back to where I started but seeing as how both of my babies were right around 7 pounds, there's plenty left to lose. I like to say that some people carry the baby in their bellies and I carried my babies in my hips and thighs : )
Let me break it down for you in numbers:
My pre-pregnancy weight - 130lbs
Pregnancy weight both times - 180ish
Pre-2nd pregnancy weight - 149
Current weight - 151
The Plan:
The Southbeach Diet is our preferred method of weight loss (the hubby has some pregnancy pounds to lose also - every good man should). The reason is because I could go through life living on side dishes and desserts alone. I would be a fattie but I would be a happy fattie. This diet forces me to put down the refined sugars and simple carbohydrates and embrace the main course. I have zero will power so I really need a plan that just tells me what I can and cannot have. So far, I've lost 9 pounds (no, I'm not counting the weight lost right after the baby was born).
Here's my secret - the true key to weight loss success is competition and monetary reward. I'm competing with some coworkers in a Biggest Loser type competition where the winner walks away with the pot of about $150.00. I am fiercely competitive and plan to blow them all out of the water and use the money to go shopping for non-maternity clothes for the first time in 2 years : )
The ultimate goal:
To be back to 130 lbs by June 1st, 2010. We'll be going on our first real vacation since our honeymoon and mama needs to look good in a swim suit. You can track my progress on my handy-dandy weight loss ticker. I'll update it each week when I weigh in.

Helpful Tip #3

Breastmilk storage:

If you plan on breastfeeding and hope to be able to freeze the milk to use down the road, I suggest laying the bags flat on their sides to freeze them. It will use about half the space.
Also, "breast milk storage bags" that you buy in the baby section are like $9 for 45.....Ziplock freezer bags are like $3 for 45. I choose Ziplocks!