The Skinny on the Skinny.

Guys, the pooch is shrinking. I should have tried this whole "not eating like a pig" thing sooner. In my defense, I was a full-time nursing mama and that causes increased appetite. Now that I'm not nursing as much (down to one or two times a day) I'm not feeling as hungry. I'm actually really enjoying eating better; it's making me feel a lot healthier. And check this out:

Office bathroom again, because consistency is fun!

I am so excited about this. My clothes are fitting better (although that junk in the trunk is not, and will probably never be, shrinking very much). I'd rather have a booty than a pooch, though! The husband once again commented on how tiny I'm getting, which makes me feel really good.

A week and a half until the beach, and I'm feeling more bikini ready than before!!

"You look skinny."

You know those three magical words every new mother wants to hear? No, not "I love you." Nope, "she's so cute" is flattering, but not what I'm going for. "I got cheesecake" are definitely three magical words I love to hear, but there are three words that are even better at the moment: 

"You look skinny."

My husband got major brownie points this weekend when he said those three little words. He meant them, too. I have known him long enough (sidenote: nearly ten years (sidenote to the sidenote: when did we get so old?)) to know when he means it, and when he is just flattering me. 

I have been mostly good about eating healthy. I may have relapsed this weekend at the site of bacon (hey, when it's buy one get one free, it must be purchased and cooked), but I ate less than I normally would. I have been eating smaller portions, have nearly completely cut out sodas, and rarely eat sweets (unless the husband offers to bring me one; my body answers NO but my mouth says YES). I am snacking less, and when I do snack I try to keep it healthy. 

I have been "working out" during my lunch breaks at the office. Luckily, I have an office with a door, so I can actually have privacy during my lunch breaks. I turn on my slacker radio (but keep it at a low volume because my office is far from soundproof), and do whatever exercises come to mind. These mostly consist of squats, leg lifts, and other silent exercises. I work on the second floor of our office, and there is an office directly below mine, so jumping jacks aren't exactly an option. I think back to my two exercise mediums from my youth (1. Dance class and 2. Jane Fonda workout video) and do the stretches and exercises I remember. If anyone could actually see me working out in my office, they would laugh. A lot. I'm sure I'm all kinds of awkward. However, nobody can see me, so I can be as awesomely ridiculous as I want; at least I'm burning calories!

I have been talking so much about what my post-baby body looks like, and I figure it's time that I share (sorry, you don't get to see the bottom half of me. I think that's where the 15 pounds are hiding). This was taken last week, exactly 5 months after giving birth. I know, I know... it's not terrible, but I want it to be better so I feel like myself again. "Myself" doesn't have a protruding belly (except after an amazingly large meal) and love handles. Dearest baby pooch, the time has come for you to go buh bye!

Yeah, that's my office bathroom. Haters gonna hate.

Put down that donut!

From my baby shower, nom nom nom nom nom

So, this is a post about getting back to my pre-sweet Caroline body. I'm not afraid to admit that I I gained a little under 40 pounds during my pregnancy, which was much more than I ever thought I would. You know what I blame? Those freaking beautiful, yummy, heavenly donuts. On my way to work, I pass by two Dunkin Donuts. During my pregnancy, I would often use self constraint and make it past that first Dunkin Donuts without stopping... and then celebrate by getting a decaf coffee and two donuts at the second one. FAIL. Many lunch breaks were spent eating and then going out to get a milkshake, a frappuccino, or a white hot chocolate. I had never in my life had a sweet tooth, and pregnancy made it out of control. Obviously, a lot more than donuts contributed to the 40 pound gain, but they sort of represent my lack of healthy eating during pregnancy. Yes, there were also veggies and fruit consumed to give my lady the nutrients she needed, but those should have replaced the donuts, not supplemented them.

During the week following delivery, I lost about 20 of those 40 pounds (over eight of those pounds were pure, donut fed, eight pound baby). In the week following that, about 5 pounds slowly faded away. And then it happened. Someone hit the "pause" button on my scale, I hit that plateau, and I have been stuck there ever since.

Yes, it was only three months ago that I gave birth. Yes, I am thinner than most people I know. Yes, I know you are probably rolling your eyes at me right now. But, if you do the math, I am still 15 pounds more than before I got pregnant. I think I just hide it well since I am tall. And, most of it is in my bum and thighs - easy to conceal in the winter months! If you look closer, my pants are tighter, my shirts are shorter, and this is creating quite the butt crack issue (TMI? Oops!). I tried to dress nice on my first day back to work, and learned that not a single pair of my work pants fit me. Thank goodness my office is casual!

I have set a goal for myself and it is to eat healthier, be more active, and PUT DOWN THAT DONUT! My cravings for sweets have dropped dramatically since the second Caroline "popped out" (don't we wish delivery was really that simple?), but I do still like to treat myself to goodies. I won't punish myself and drop my goodies completely, but I need to be better. Instead of a frappuccino at Starbucks, I need to order a smoothie... they cost the same, I love them both, and one seems a wee bit healthier than the other. I already took a big step in this department by ordering my first "skinny" beverage of my life. And, guess what. I loved it!!

I have been trying to cook healthier for myself and Josh (although, I cannot resist that bacon he makes me on the weekends!). I have cut fried foods out of my diet completely and they are not missed. I live for sites like Skinnytaste that make healthier versions of my favorites. I only drink sodas now when we are getting fast food and it's in the combo. I have also cut down on my ridiculous snacking habits, which got way out of control during my maternity leave (something about having that kitchen nearby is dangerous).

Despite these changes in my diet, that scale just will not budge! Grr, scale. So, I need to be more active, too. My job isn't exactly helping, as I sit at a desk all day. And it has been chilly, so I haven't been walking with Caroline. And, when in the world am I supposed to find time (and money) to go to a gym? SO, now that I am getting my eating habits under control, I need to come up with some way to become more active!

My goal is to drop some weight before the beach in May so I feel like myself in a bathing suit, and to possibly even be at my pre-pregnancy weight by July when we travel to Barcelona. I have no clue if these goals are realistic, as I have never dieted before, but at least it's something to strive for! Even if the numbers on the scale don't drop, I at least want to tone up some of this extra stuff! I just want to feel like me again and for my butt crack issue to be resolved ;) AND I want to be a healthier person, and a good diet and exercise are key!

You can take my donuts, but you can never have my cheesecake!!!!

 

Just a Random Blog...

... to keep me busy on yet another boring day. I seriously wish part-time work was an option (1. we cannot afford that and 2. my office would never allow that), because sitting here all day, doing nothing, and staring at pictures of Caroline (which creates both smiles and occasional tears) is not fun. SO, here's one of those blogs filled with random thoughts of Kaitlin. I will fill it with random picture from my instagram, just to add some prettiness into the mix!

 

Caroline and Eeyore, best friends forever. Caroline loves her Eeyore. I hope she continues to love him, because he's one of those "sentimental" stuffed animals. I bought him on the day we found out we were having a girl (Joshua bought her a lion, but she's not old enough for him quite yet). Eeyore stays in the car while Caroline is at daycare. When I put him in her carseat after I pop her in the car this huge grin spans across her face. The entire ride home consists the sounds of her telling him all about her day (and recently blowing bubbles at him) and her playing with his ears. He also eats dinner with us and often swings with her.

 

That smile just melts my heart. Every time. If I'm doing something and she starts smiling, I drop whatever I'm doing to just stare and smile back. She now smiles whenever Josh or I enter the room. Yesterday, when I picked her up from daycare, she smiled the second she saw me. Ugh, I love that little face. Now, we're trying to help her develop her laugh. She is totally trying, and we have gotten hints of a laugh, but that full blown laughter hasn't happened yet. That will be magical!

 

She definitely has her daddy's eyes. I told Joshua he'll never have to go on an episode of Maury, because just one look at this little girl's eyes says she's his :) I had little hope that she would inherit my blue eyes (silly dominant genes), and her eyes are so pretty, I'm okay with that!

 

Beer and wine have returned into my life, and they are as amazing as I remembered. I still don't really touch liquor (with the exception being the lovely bloody mary below) because, well, eww. I just have to limit what I drink so I don't end up with alcoholic milk for Caroline to drink. Nobody wants a drunken baby!

 

The furry babies are all doing really well with Caroline. Even Wrangler is getting less scared. No pictures of Tollie below, but she actually really loves the baby. She loves rubbing against Caroline's head while she's eating, haha. Parker likes sitting in my lap while Caroline eats (that is an interesting sight). And the dogs are both very good about being gentle with her, but both love licking that bald little head.

 

I'd say I'm a very lucky girl to have such an amazing baby girl, a wonderful husband, super duper pets, and of course terrific family and friends who spoil Caroline from afar. I cannot wait to take her to the beach in May. She will be almost six months old during that trip, and I have heard that is a super cute age! And I really hope the Barcelona trip works out. She'll be almost nine months then and I'm sure that's a super cute age, as well. I think every month is going to be super cute for sweet little Caroline Quinn.

As for me, I am trying to keep myself busy at work to help the days go quicker. I blog, stalk people on Facebook, read random websites, read magazines, etc. Some days are busy, but most are not. I have to stay her though because 1. the pay is high for the area, 2. I need the vacation time I have earned because we have a lot of trips planned, and 3. the schedule and location are super convenient for Caroline's daycare. 

Along with keeping busy, I am also trying to eat healthier, snack less (except for healthy snacks), and lose this pesky baby pooch! I know, it has only been three months, but I want it gone and I want that extra weight gone. Since I am still breastfeeding, I can't exactly cut calories because I need them! But, I can make my calorie healthier. I need to start some sort of exercise routine, but with prepping myself and Caroline for work/daycare in the mornings, working full time, picking Caroline up from daycare, making dinner, feeding Caroline, showering, and trying to get enough sleep, where in the world am I supposed to find that extra hour in a day to work out? So, for now, I am just trying to eat healthier and cutting things like soda and sweets mostly out of my diet. So far, that scale still hasn't budged, but hopefully soon!

Well, I guess I should get back to "work." I have nothing to do, though, ugh. I just took my Fenugreek herb, which is supposed to increase my milk supply, which is taking even more of a hit now that I'm at work. I have been taking it since Friday and have seen no improvement; just that I smell like maple syrup (a common side effect; I'm not a weirdo). I guess I'm just doomed to never make enough milk, whomp whomp.

I hope everyone has a lovely day <3

The Dreaded Two Month Checkup.

This was Caroline's happy little face while in the waiting room at her pediatrician's office. Her daddy was holding her, she was blowing bubbles and cooing, an older boy was hitting on her and calling her "baby," and all was right with the world. Then, they called her name.

We took her back and stripped her down to her "panties" (diaper). How embarrassing! They then weigh her. This was okay because there were airplanes spinning above her (a mobile). 12 pounds 6 ounces (78 percentile)! Next, they measured her length, which gave her a chance to stretch her lady muscles. Twenty three and a quarter inches (80 percentile). Then, they measured her head, which seemed to be fine to her. Thirty nine centimeters (70 percentile). That was all so fun for her, although she did not like only wearing her "panties."

Back to the room we went. Mommy carried her to a poster on the wall and showed her all the different insects. Daddy carried her around and gave her kisses. The nice doctor came in, called her a perfect baby and said she was a keeper, and gave mommy free samples of formula (she says it's not as good as her milk machine's milk, but it's okay sometimes). Everything was well and good.

Then, the nurse came in. All hell broke loose. She laid on the table smiling and cooing, her daddy and mommy holding her hands. And then gives her the oral vaccine. That wasn't so bad. But then...... three shots. OH MY GOSH THE SCREAMS. There were sounds coming out of my poor girl that I have not yet heard. Her face was bright red. She squeezed our fingers. IT. WAS. TERRIBLE. Everyone prepared us for it and holy cow they were right. My poor girl was soooo sad. 

We quickly dressed her, checked out, and rushed the crying lady out to the car. I nursed her immediately, which seemed to calm her down. She and I then started the drive to Target to get her baby pain reliever and she SCREAMED the entire time. I nursed her again in the Target parking lot and she fell asleep. So, Target was a breeze!

We got home and she had to eat once again (she takes after her mom) and then she sat on the floor with me to look through a box filled with amazing hand-me-downs from her second cousin, Lena. (Thank you, Margaret!!). She is currently swinging but not sleeping. I thought these vaccines were supposed to make them tired? Not my little girl. She is wide awake!

So, it was not a fun experience. I wish we could have delayed the vaccines until she was a bit earlier, but with her going to daycare in three weeks (don't even get me started on how much I am dreading that, oh my gosh), they're necessary!

Sorry, Caroline Quinn, I promise we weren't trying to torment you <3

Update time!!

Hello, readers! I apologize for the lack of update, but I have been entertaining my little sister, Allison! She spent a week with us and it was SO fun. Wish she could have stayed longer, but she had to go visit Mickey Mouse :) I was really sad when she left because I didn't know when I'd see any family members next. It's always helpful to have some sort of visit scheduled to look forward to when you live far away. My mom mentioned a possible February visit from her and my dad which would be AMAZING. He's the only grandparent that has not yet seen his granddaughter, and he needs to see her; she will LOVE him. That phone call cheered me up because it gives me a possibility to look forward to; hopefully it works out! The visit would fall a week before my dreaded return to work. I wish I could stay home with Caroline but there's just no way we can possibly afford that. She'll be okay in daycare, though, and it will make her very social. Just makes me a sad mommy!

So, here are some updates!

Caroline had her one-month checkup. She is over 22 inches long now and over 9 pounds! I am a bit bummed that I had to use the formula supplement to get her there, but all that matters is her health, and she is very healthy! And the formula isn't too bad; it actually makes life a lot less stressful!

Speaking of stressful, today has been a stressful one. She is going through her 6-week growth spurt and is CONSTANTLY eating. Like, constantly for real. I feed her one side, she falls asleep, realizes she's asleep and still hungry, and SCREAMS. I then feed her the other side, she falls asleep, realizes she's asleep and still hungry, and SCREAMS. I then go make her a bottle, she keeps falling asleep while drinking it, I take it away, she realizes it's gone, and SCREAMS. I had to leave her screaming for a few minutes just so I could get a chance to brush my teeth. We did take a walk around the block and go to the grocery store, which both calmed her down for a bit (she loves being outside and moving around), but the second we got back to the house both times she, you guessed it, SCREAMED. Josh probably thought I was exaggerating when I told him this, but he is on daddy duty tonight and is seeing that I'm not making it up. Poor little Caroline, I feel so bad for her. But we are doing our best to meet her little piglet needs. It's exhausting!!!

She has started smiling which is SO. CUTE. She can be exhausting me, as detailed in the above paragraph, and the second that smile appears on her face everything gets better. She is still figuring out that smile and it is sometimes a bit odd, but it's adorable. She is also experimenting with more sounds. My gosh she makes such cute sounds. The other morning she seriously meowed at me. Josh heard her say "hiiiiii" one day. She seriously is an adorable little girl.

Kind of a smile :)

I feel like I had more to say, but my exhausted brain has run out of words. Miss all of you oh so much! <3

Little Miss Healthy!

Miss Caroline had a doctor's visit today and she is very healthy :) She is gaining weight just like she should, which makes me very happy!! We just need to start making sure she lays with her head pointed to the left sometimes; she only likes laying with it pointed to the right and that side of her head is getting a wee bit flat. Silly baby.

This was the first appointment Josh had been able to come to, and I think he really enjoyed it. He was carrying her around with such pride; he loves showing off his little baby girl!

YAY for having a healthy baby - that's what every parent wants :) Ours just happens to be super cute, too!