Body After Baby (# 2)

After Kay was born I was extremely lucky to pretty much bounce back to my normal size/shape within 5 months of her being born. I only got two teeny teeny tiny stretchmarks near my belly button...I mean so tiny that they weren't noticeable AT ALL. Very small. No saggy skin, no floppy boobs (thanks to implants), and no post partum pooch. I was lucky! But I was also young...21 to be exact. The whole time I was TTC and pregnant with Miss M I often wondered what my body (specifically my stomach) would look like after baby #2. Would it look the same? Would I bounce right back again? Would it be worse because the skin had now been stretched out twice? Would I need a tummy tuck? Would I get more stretch marks, or get luck like the first time? So.many.questions. that no one could answer!

I would often ask other mother's of two or more kids what kind of damage # 2 left behind, or if it was the same as after #1. Many people thought I would still be okay since I got so lucky the first time. A few would say that's it was # 2 that did them in. What would I be like? Only time would tell....

Well here I am almost 12 months post partum with baby # 2 and  I can safely say now I know. It did take a much bigger toll on my physically this time around. I was golden after # 1....perfect.....no saggy skin, no pooch, now not so much. Now I have the typical mommy problems that I managed to escape with Kay. I have much more of a pooch, my stomach skin is saggy and stretched, and I did get more stretch marks on my lower abdomen making the lower part of my stomach a wrinkly mess. I always say that my belly button needs a "lift" because it hovers, and I don't have that cute little innie belly button I once had (although that went away a little after baby # 1, just got worse this time around and I've had 2 previous belly button piercing so I don't think that helps the situation either). I hate it!! Body after baby number 2 is not the same! Number 2 really can wreck havoc on the body. It all been stretched out before, so it doesn't quite bounce back the same like after the first one. It's been harder and slower to loose the weight and your older, which doesn't help.  

So in efforts to keep it real and because I would have loved to see what another woman's stomach looked like after baby # 2, I am going to let my guard down and show what my stomach looks like now. After baby # 2. Here it is....No spray tan, still 10 pounds above my goal weight with my saggy belly button, and standing in a very flattering position....

Now don't get me wrong...I know it could be MUCH WORSE. Thankfully, I don't need a tummy tuck (although I could use a mini one, however so not worth it). And I do exercise 4-6 days per week, but no amount of exercise to take away saggy skin and separated abdominal muscles. None. It really was baby # 2 that ruined me. But I'll take it. But only because she's so darn cute.....

It's all worth it and more!!

Meal Planning Monday

Here's what's cookin at my house this week:

• Peppered Pineapple Beef Skewers with organic jasmine rice and a veggie medley of savoy cabbage, edamame, sliced carrots, and broccoli.   
• Braised Paprika Chicken...sounds fancy but looks pretty easy and oh so tasty! Served with a mixed baby green salad.
• Salmon with a Korean Barbecue Glaze served with fresh sauteed garlic green beans.
• Chicken Taco's and black beans. I do them fajita style but instead of flour tortillas, we like cooked white corn tortillas.  
• Ciabatta Bread Club Sandwich's served with oven baked sweet potato fries- kids LOVE these...I omit the chipotle seasoning.

Weird Things My Kids Say and Do

• Miss M stuffs her blankie in her mouth while trying to go to sleep...literally STUFFS it in. Weirdo!
• Kay calls her girls parts her "Other Butt" or her "Front Butt".
• The other day on the way to school Kay said that letting the boys chase her at recess helps her work on her "social skills". She was serious.
• After M was born, Kay packed 2 suitcases (one with toys and one with cloths- smart girl!), wrote me a goodbye letter and told us that she was moving outside because it was "too hard to be a part of this family". She followed that with "But I'm still going to come in to eat and go to the bathroom...".
• Miss M grunts like an bull every time you put her in her highchair until you get food on her tray.
• Kay really thinks that there are things called "Booty Crickets". When she was 2 and went through the I- don't- want- you- to- wash- me phase, I told her that if you don't wash your butt you'll get booty crickets. Still works like a charm, so I'm stickin to it!
• Miss M hates holding hands. Refuses!
• I call Kay a little gypsy because every night she sleeps with: her pillow, her eye mask, her pillow pet, her stuffed sheep, and her cat "Saraphina". This girl has BAGGAGE.
• Miss M loves cat food....seriously, she goes back for seconds. When I said this kids eats anything, I meant ANYTHING. Gross!
• Kays thoughts on child birth:You either squeeze it out, or you cut it out. The other day she asked me "When you squeeze it out, where does it come out of" Oh dear god I thought...but then I told her, and her response: "Ewwww thats gross, I'm never having kids!".

And I'll end with that :) What are some "weirdo" things your kids do? I cant be alone here....Kids are WEIRD man!

Wordless Wednesday

Meal Planning Monday

Man, I'm little late posting this (I meant to post it this morning) but I was SO SO busy today with work, and my mommy duties. But here it is...my meal plan for the week!

• Tofu Fried Rice (could easily substitute tofu for chicken, beef, or pork)
• Sirloin Steaks with Mushroom Sauce and Chive Garlic Potatoes served with sauteed green beans.
• Pistachio and Goat Cheese Smothered Chicken (looks SO easy and I love goat cheese, I always have it on hand!), served with a simple orzo and roasted asparagus.
• Broiled Tilapia with Garlic served with sauteed zucchini, a small baked potato, and a salad.
• Crock Pot Lasagna-  sounds crazy, even to me but I'm gonna try it!

Decisions, Decisions

I'm still here....and still shopping! Christmas just gives me a really good excuse : ) Kay's big Christmas gift from Santa this year is the new Nintendo DSi XL! I know she's going to be so excited to have a upgrade from her "babyish" Leapster 2 handheld gaming system. I am glad I didn't get the dsi for her last year like I was planning on because I think now she will appreciate and take care of it more now that she's a little older. And up until recently she's been content with her Leapster 2. But now I have tough decisions to make, like which skin I should buy her! So help...if you were 6 and sassy like Kay, which one would you choose?

The Purple:

The Fashion:

The Zebra...ya know cause she is my daughter..

Or the Pink Flowers?

You know because these decisions are just so hard. Stay tuned for my wish list!

A Spectacular Evening

One of our new holiday traditions is to go see the Nutcracker ballet, but when I heard that the Radio City Rocketts Christmas Spectacular was coming to town for two nights I knew we just had to go! Both Kay and I love the Rocketts, I mean how could you not? They are amazing!

So I decided to take my grandmother and grandfather- AKA Noni and Paw. I knew they would really enjoy the show and my DH is really not into things like this. But before the show we had dinner at Jimmy Buffet's Maragrettaville! Love this place, its so much fun and the food is yummo. Miss and Kay were defiantly infatuated with this lady....Little M couldnt take her eyes off her!

 Me and my Paw..the other love of my life!

 Noni and Kay

All of us.

Me and my girls

 My beautiful Kay in her floor lenght Christmas gown :)

Then we walked over to the arena for the show..so excited..

Kay loves to take pictures...

OMG, it was amazing. So glad we went! I have to say my favorite part was the solider boy performance...INCREDIBLE! It's worth seeing thats for sure!



11 Months

Well folks...here were are. The last month of her first year of life. I truly cant believe how fast its gone by...and she's just getting more and more fun each day. It's such a joy to see what kind of littler person she is becoming. This last month we have had a language EXPLOSION! If you have been reading this blog, you'll know that I was getting a little concerned about her lack of babbling and talking. She didn't even start babbling until she was 9.5-10 months old and now we cant shut her up : ) She says Mama, Dada, Gaga, says her own version of cup, cat, and Kay! And she just babbles and talks all day long. I'm so proud of her...but I guess when you walk at 9.5 months, you cant be mastering everything at once right?! She's totally made up for that now though and that's all that matters.

Fun fact about Miss M at 11 months:

- She's got 6 teeth. 4 on the top and 2 on the bottom.
- Her hair is really filling in now.
- She 's just moving into a size 4 diaper- although they are a bit big.
- She wears 12 month, or 12-18 month cloths depending on the brand.
- She still takes 2 naps per day. First one around 10:00, second around 2:00.
- She's down to 3 6oz. bottles a day. 1 in the morning, 1 before her afternoon nap, and 1 before bed.

She loves: Kindermusik! The more we go, the more she enjoys herself! It's great fun for her. She also loves music, corn on the cob, bath time, her new singing/dancing dog, my phone, and her family of course!

She hates: waiting for food, getting in the car, getting changed, same ol same ol!

Wordless Wednesday

{Here's a sneak peak of our Christmas cards this year...this is the back!}

They are folded cards....I'll post the rest once they go out ;)

Lord Help Me

Soooooo who's idea was it to have all these girls??? Remind me again?? Because today little boys sounded REAL good let me tell you!

I realize I am my kids mother and because of that there is going to be some dramatic behaviors, and with 2 girls a little drama is too be expected. Today Kay took it to a whole other level. As I was standing there in arguing with her that "If she didn't go to school the cops would come take her to jail, because you cant NOT go to school because you cant find your other twinkle toe (her shoe) and that you can only stay home because of an illness not because of a fashion mishap. (Yes, I use scare tactics- they work). I was telling her this as she was violently throwing shoes out of the shoes basket, flailing her arms and legs, and screaming with her sassiest voice about how this is the worst day of her life. How she can't possibly wear silver ballerina flats with THIS outfit. and how it was all my fault. I stood there and suddenly imagined for that one moment how things were going to be with her when she is say....9? 11? Or 13? and I AM SCARED YALL!

SCARED.

I can assure you that this kid is going to give me a run for my money.  I can already bet that! Actually I saw that when she was about 2 and she was standing naked on her stepping stool doing the dishes......I have a pic...but I'm too scared to show my kids butt on the internet. But it is HILARIOUS! Pee your pants hilarious!

Ahhhhhhh.....lord help me.

She really is a sweet child- but this girl has her MOMENTS. And I know all girls are dramatic but I have friends that will testify that she is even a little more dramatic than the norm. Sure it makes life more fun (that's my excuse when I go overboard) and who knows...maybe one day it will come in handy...maybe she'll take home an Oscar one day. Or drive me to drink...one of the two.