New Year...New Physique

Now I don't know about you, but I have always struggled to find the motivation to work out. Every year, I would set resolutions around losing weight and getting that "beach bod" and I would always let myself down.

Needless to say, having a baby hasn't helped in the motivation department. Getting quality sleep has been challenge enough, let alone finding the energy to workout 5 days a week or attempt to take a class. People always told me I didn't even look pregnant and after I had the baby, the 25 pounds I gained virtually fell off. I was back in my old jeans two weeks after she was born and now I weigh slightly less than I did when I found out I was pregnant. However, I wanted more definition and tone. Even though I didn't look it, I felt flabby and out of shape.

When Sophia was a few weeks old, Christopher resumed his routine. He plays basketball Tues and Thurs at In Motion and is good about going regularly to Bikram Yoga. Therefore, it was virtually impossible for me to go as well. Between our work schedules, we both can't do it. So, since her birth I have taken the backseat to exercise. Looking back over the past four months, it wasn't the best idea but what was most important to me was being with Sophia (Side note: My second child (if I have one) will be born in spring so I can enjoy outdoor activity with her). Therefore, until I get into more of a groove with our schedules, exercise will have to come in the form of workout dvd's. Now we've all done it....bought into the silly infomercials in hopes of looking like the fitness models endorsing the product. However, I really needed to find something I could do in the comfort and ease of my own home around Sophia's napping schedule or early in the morning before she wakes. I was determined to find the perfect one...

Well....I FOUND IT!!!

I have always been ENVIOUS of Kelly Ripa's arms. I mean Good God...the woman has three kids and has a morning tv show. Granted her income surpasses mine ten times over and she most likely has a personal trainer and chef, but if you she do it, so can I, right?

Come to find out, she loves this little studio call Physique 57 in New York. She swears by it....loving how it has completely transformed her body and how addicting and fun it is. They are exclusively in NYC, but after doing my research I discovered they recently produced DVD's. Body transformation all while having fun? That's definitely worth the 40 bucks and I gave in.

The dvd's arrived and as Chris picked them up from the doorstep, and when I explained what they were he just rolled his eyes. I told him I would GLADLY trade places and I could go to Bikram Yoga and basketball 4-5 times a week and he could stay home with Sophia and eat. Well it's no wonder that he quickly changed his tune...lol.

So, after a very hectic first week back at work, balancing 43+ hours and maintaining my quality time with Sophia, I did my first full body Physique 57 workout yesterday. And OH WOW is all I can say! I desperately underestimated just how great it would be and how soe I would be. It literally worked every area. It's a ballet inspired exercise program. Using a ballet bar (or the back of your couch), 3 and 5 lb weights and a floor mat, you work each body part (until atrophy, basically) and then you stretch it out. The result is long, lean, strong muscles. It's only been two days and two workouts but I can already feel a difference (and hopefully I will see one very soon).

I know it will take a while to get Kelly Ripa's defined arms but I am not stopping until I do. The workout is 57 minutes long, but it's over before you know it...and it's FUN. Truly the best at home workout I have done thus far.

So it's a new year and a new me...sooner than later. I laugh hysterically at the concept of "MILF" but what I want....a defined, toned and lean body...is definitely within reach! I took a "before" pic and hopefully will post a great "after" one so you can see the results first hand!


Happy Tuesday everyone!!!

Is it Friday yet?

I used to never completely understand the meaning behind "Hump Day." I mean, what's so great about Wednesday?

Well, as of this evening, the meaning is crystal clear.

Quite a week this has been. After being off for four months, I ventured back into the work world. Trying to start where I left off was much harder than I anticipated; I definitely underestimated the amount of energy and patience it would take to get back in the groove of things.

My one saving grace is my mama. She has been very generous to Christopher and I and has volunteered to come in three days a week to watch Sophia. I honestly couldn't ask for more. She gets to stay in the comfort of her own home, she gets 100% of "grandma" attention, and to make the deal that much sweeter, she helps around the house and cooks meals. I came home yesterday and her nursery was immaculate, all her old clothes were washed, folded and put away for storage and she completely organized her closet. I have never seen the nursery so organized. She also completed all the laundry, did the dishes and found a way to keep Sophia happy (and sleeping) in her crib. THANK YOU MAMA...you have saved me much anguish, stress and many tears!

Therefore, today was going to be a GREAT day! The weather wouldn't be, but I wouldn't let it bring me down. Got to work, acclimated myself with most of everything and opened the store. 45 minutes later, the power went out and stayed out for 2.5 hours. Hannah and I sat in a dark empty store while waiting to hear if we would be headed home. No luck there...the power came on right before I had to head out to the pediatrician to see about Sophia's incessant coughing and congestion. So my lunch break consisted of no food. and unfortunately no great news. She was diagnosed with a case of Bronchiolitis, an infection of the bronchioles, the small air passages in the lungs. The small red dots under her eyes were actual broken capillaries, which were attributed to her heavy coughing. She also has a minor ear infection. Anything else? The doctor gave me a nebulizer to take home and showed me how to give her treatments in order to open and clear her air passages. She cried through the whole nebulizer treatment at the doctor, and it wasn't much better at home.

After the appt, mama dropped me back off at work. She picked me up around 6 and just when I didn't think laughing was a possibility, she saved the day once again. As we were driving home, she told me about the great dinner she had made...a spring spinach salad, blackened cajun salmon steaks, and mushroom rice. "Mushroom rice?" I said. "Oops!" she said (laughing). "Oh yeah, you aren't the daughter who likes mushrooms" (more laughing)!!!" My sister LOVES them, and I despise them. Looks like I'm not the only one losing her mind this week...lol. Needless to say, dinner was not a favorite of mine, but Christopher loved it so that's all that matters.

After a VERY painstakingly long day, I now view "Hump Day" as a great thing...good riddance to the past three!

And Thursday...Bring it on...I can take it!!!

Feeling accomplished, feeling good

Yesterday was a great day...for two reasons...

1) Sophia turned four months old!!! I got her an exersaucer and didn't anticipate how complicated it would be to put together. Here's a pic of her taken in it yesterday:



2) I got an incredible amount of work done. My mom had come into town for two days and I wasn't going to let her leave until she helped me COMPLETELY finish Sophia's nursery. Final touches had not been done and honestly finding time to do it on my own was nearly impossible. So, she played with Sophia and lent her opinion while I went to work. I arranged the butterflies on the wall, ordered prints through one hour and hung her picture collage, hung her shelves and FINALLY put together her shadow box of the day she was born. The nursery is finally the result of everything I had envisioned and I am so happy that it all came together so well. I was a bit nervous that choosing lavender and sage as the two primary colors would end up biting me in my (you know where) but when all was said and done, all the details really tied it together. Here's a collage of pics:

 

So, today involves her 4 month doctor appt...hopefully no more shots :( and then hopefully a nice walk in Bidwell Park before the weather turns ugly for the next 6 days. Later, I will update her calendar for the past three weeks and begin handcrafting her valentines to send out to friends, family and her potential boyfriends of course :).

And DUN...DUN...DUN...Only three days until I go back to work. Instead of looking down on it, I will accept it with open arms. I have to realize how good I have it. My mom will be coming in three days a week to watch her so Christopher will only have to do a half day on Friday. The extra income will be lovely so I can begin the domestic decoration of our home and start planning our summer vacations. It will also allow me to cherish the time I have with Sophia even that much more.

Happy Friday everyone!

The dreaded flu....ughhhh

The flu. It was bound to come eventually. I can't even remember the last time I was sick. However, a week from today I go back to my full time career at BBW...yes REALITY. I was already nervous about the transition, so it makes perfect sense that my body has decided to shut down at this time. First time being sick with Sophia and it is amazing how a child changes your whole perspective of selfishness.

When I was a little girl, I looked forward to these days. My mom had an in home Montessori preschool so staying home was ideal. She would take care of me...bring me juice and homemade chicken noodle soup. I would get to watch tv and as I got older she would even let me watch her favorite soap All My Children. How I long for those days again as I sit on the couch typing this blog. Sophia (luckily) is sleeping next to me in her bouncer but once she wakes, the mom in me will be back at work caring to her every need.

I am almost positive the sickness is more likely a form of food poisoning. It started Friday night with nausea which turned into a night of endless bouts of vomiting, followed by a day of dehydration and exhaustion. Sunday things seemed to be better. I could finally replenish my fluids and hold down some food. However, today (minus the vomiting) things seem much worse. I woke to a feverish break, a congested nose and a very sore throat. I have managed to drink some hot black tea with honey and hopefully a few more of those will ease the throat pain.

So, selfishness aside, my biggest concern is for Sophia. It's bad enough that I am ill, but if she were to get sick, I think life as I know it would fall to pieces. Luckily, there are WONDERFUL things that come from breastfeeding. I swear the milk my body produces is truly "miracle milk." It contains antibodies that fights diseases my body comes in contact with and it is custom made to fight diseases that my baby is exposed to. I was even blown away a while back when I learned you can put some in an eye dropper to treat conjunctivitis, an common eye infection that Sophia had at 1.5 months of age. So...THANK YOU God for the funny way in which you work your magic

In the end, it's days like these that make you really appreciate your health. I will never again take it for granted because as a parent, you thrive on it.

I must cut this short now because Sophia is just waking, but I wish each and everyone of you a very healthy week ahead.

Much love,

She's rolling over and over....I can't get enough

Sophia rolling over for the 7th or 8th time this morning...and upsetting Lily in the process :)

(Side note: Lily doesn't like being touched or nudged by feet...hence the growling in the video)

My resolution(s)

It's the first day back at home in 2010...what a crazy thing. I remember as a young child thinking the year 2000 was so far away. I thought by now there would be flying cars and (like in Star Trek) I would be able to "beam up" my own food. While cars definitely aren't flying, time sure is. I am a mom!!! Still finding it hard to swallow that notion, but something even harder to believe is that Sophia will be four months old shortly and I will once again be returning the work force. I am still unsure how I will maintain the quality time I have with her and balance a 40+ work week in retail, but as the old saying goes "where there's a will, there's a way". In the mean time I will continue to buy my biweekly lottery ticket in hopes of one day never having to work and spending as much time as I can with my child(ren).

So for the next two weeks until reality settles back in, I have decided to create a few resolutions that I will...yes...stick to. They say the average person will break his/her resolution by Feb 17th, so here's to hoping these three will suffice much longer. Here we go...

1) Keep friends and family updated on Sophia's daily adventures, silly moments and amazing milestones. How will I do this in this crazy, "not enough time in one day" life I live? Enter the reason for this blog! I will try to post something each day if not every few days to give my friends and family a look into her life and how I am managing it all.

2) Plan a weekly dinner menu. While I was visiting with our great friends JR and Erin Lotto, I found that Erin planned out the week's meals in advance. She has a framed blank Sun-Sat menu board where she writes out each night's dinner. I will be able to form dinner around whatever I already have or shop accordingly for what I need. It will make things much easier and cheaper when shopping at the grocery store. When I go back to work full time, I will be working more closing shifts during the week in order to accommodate less needed daycare between Christopher and I which is great. However, I will need to cook dinner for Christopher and Sophia in advance and making Sophia's food on my own from fresh fruits and veggies is a decision I made long ago. Therefore, a system like this will definitely work to my advantage. This is a resolution I can stick to...I know it!

3) Let go of the days of brand names! Becoming a mother has truly changed my perception of the good life. When I was younger, weekends spent at the mall was the norm and as I got older I always wanted the "best"... name brands, designer purses, the works! This was also attainable by having to support just myself with my current salary and on a measly amount of rent. Times have undoubtedly changed. With a new house (and mortgage) and a new baby, comes a new way of thinking. While I am VERY thankful for the job I have, I still do not make enough to live the ways of the past and give everything I can (and want) to Sophia. Now when I shop, my focus has shifted to her as it should. I will instead learn the ways of saving and look to the bigger picture of family vacations and traveling to visit friends and family. For example, Old Navy has become my favorite place to shop for Sophia (inexpensive clothes for an ever changing size). Now don't get me wrong, I love my jeans. Nothing beats a nice pair and I will still have a few but the overall consistency of shopping will decrease in order to provide the life I want for my family.

So there you have it...my New Year resolutions...all attainable with some planning and thought. So as I take down the Christmas decorations, box up 2009, and create a new photo file for 2010, all in all I am content. I never thought my life in 2010 would be this way, but I honestly couldn't ask for better.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and much love!