First Day Back on the Trails

The last time Brian and I rode a trail together was the last day we woke up not knowing we were about to be parents.  That day we drove to Balm Boyette and did about 8 miles before I whined enough for him to let me head back to the car.  It was so hot out and I felt really abnormally shaky and a little queasy.  On the way home we stopped at CVS for some home pregnancy tests, and that afternoon our lives changed.  Now it's 15 months later and we have a person!  She is a beautiful, strong, determined little baby who will be pedalling with her mom and dad in no time!
 
In the meantime, Brian and I got a chance to go back out on Sunday.  This time we were easier on me and went to Wilderness Park to do the full loop.  Grandma came over and we headed out.  My first inclination of what I have in store for me in getting back into the groove was when I went to clip my camelbak at the same setting it was the last time I put it on, 15 months ago.  It was just a little tight.  OK fine, I could barely get it to snap on both the top around my chest and the bottom around my waist.  I made Brian take a pic of me squeezed into the same setup as the old days as motivation to get back there, but no one else will ever lay eyes on that photo.  So then I loosened up the straps, buckled in, hopped on the ol Mamba and off we went.  The first 5 miles were pretty awesome.  We went through some mud and I got to get dirty.  My left foot was covered in mud and I thought "I can't wait to get a pic, this is awesome!!"  Then the next 5 miles were more mud.  And more.  We made it to about mile 10 before the storm hit and I got exhausted.  It was a "12 mile loop" Brian swore to me, so I toughed it out and paced myself for 12 miles.  Then we were at 12.5, then 13, then 13.5, WTHHHH?  It was pouring so hard I could barely see.  Any mud I once proudly wore was long washed off and I could have left the camelbak behind because I was sucking in so much rain water.  I was worried about my phone getting ruined in my camelbak, but that minor worry was soon replaced with fear of death by lightning as the cracks of thunder were directly over our heads for a short time.  I wanted to walk my bike through some of the mud but the water was about 3 inches deep and I felt safer on the bike because at least the rubber tires grounded me a little better.  So I popped in in lowest gramma gear and plugged away.  The good news was that the 3 inches of water sitting on the sugar sand made that part of the ride a piece of cake and the easiest part of our whole day.  I definitely felt the 25 extra pounds I'm carrying from last time I rode that loop.  But it was still super awesome to get out and feel free again.  I didn't start missing my baby girl like crazy until around mile 11.  Brian was awesome as my lead for the ride.  We decided I was comfortable at around 9 mph and he stuck to my comfort level.  A couple times I told him it was cool it he broke out for a bit or tagged off with some guys who passed us as long as he just waited for me at the road, but he stayed with me and warned me of each deep patch of mud, and keep up my spirits with jokes like "are your feet wet?"   Even at the end when I as exhausted and barely pedaling he still stayed with me.

The last .5 miles are on the pavement back to the parking area and the rain had finally stopped.  Everything was so fresh and green and the air didn't feel so hot on our wet clothes.  I felt so accomplished (even if my quads were unbelievably sore and tight).  I can't wait to do it again. 

This was our loop.

This is him cleaning off our bikes

And this is me afterwards.

I'm only showing this pic because in another 15 months I'll show one where I'm 25 pounds lighter and muuuuch less tired.  (with much smaller milk jugs).

Eh What's Cookin Doc?

In light of a recent discovery that even nursing mothers can gain weight, I have started to take what I said about eating healthier to heart.  When I go to my OB for my routine well woman exam next month I will get a proper weight.  Then I will give myself until Mothers Day next year to get back to my pre pregnancy weight.  On Mothers Day 2013 I will run the Mothers Day 5K with Amelia, my friend Carolyn, and her incoming baby girl.  This gives me about 12 months for about 24 pounds which should be pretty doable without going overboard since I plan to nurse until around Amelia's first birthday in December. 

So.  My body is working hard to make milk to feed my baby.  For anyone who hasn't nursed before, it makes you hungry.  Ravished really.  Top that off with the fact that you don't get much time to sit and eat in the day, and it becomes very easy to eat a bunch of crap, simply because it is easier and the sugar rush is satisfying because by the time you get to eat your blood sugar is low and all you crave (or at least all I crave) is carbs and sugar.  I first realized I have a problem when I was at work and tasted a tiny bit of sugar to make sure it wasn't salt before making a batch of simple syrup.  I knew it wasn't salt, but it didn't taste like it should.  It didn't taste like sugar at all.  It tasted like crunchy air.  I've been doing this simple taste test for 9 years now and the sugar always tastes like sugar.  Now it's like I'm immune to it, and I think it is a combo of lactating and also just eating way too much friggin sugar. 

So starting this past Saturday I am writing everything I eat into a notebook. I am going to monitor what goes in and see what comes out on the scale, aiming to lose 2 pounds a month.  It is important for nursing moms to get in enough calories for your body when it is making milk, because if you don't than your body knows it and starts going into protective mode so the milk will keep coming.  We are amazing creatures.  Our body will start storing fat and keeping it in reserve, and in return start burning muscle.  Our metabolism will go to basically a complete halt and everything we do eat turns to fat.  No one wants that.  So I am shooting to eat a lot of food.  Every 2-3 hours I will eat something.  I'm trying to just make healthy decisions.  Rather than brownies for dinner, I am having turkey chili tonight.  Rather than a cinnamon bun for breakfast I had a bowl of Cheerios with non fat milk and a banana.  Instead of potato chips for a crunch with my lunch, I had raw sugar snap peas.  For ice cream I substitute Greek yogurt.  For cookies I substitute an apple with peanut butter or an orange with a handful of almonds, blueberries with a handful of walnuts, a low fat mozzarella cheese stick with a bowl of chickpeas and balsamic vinegar. 

This is not to say I won't enjoy my deserts on occasion.  Tuesday night at work someone accidentally rang in a Nutty Marshmallow Chocolate Milkshake.  Well please don't think I would let that monstrosity go down the drain.  No sir.  There were almonds in that milkshake, and almonds are healthy!  Last night I enjoyed the heck out of a piece of Tiramisu also.  But tonight I will be good and have yogurt again, and maybe some popcorn, and I will drink another gallon of water by days end.  Moderation.  And I will not deprive myself.  It's just better for everyone that way. 

Tonight's dinner is

Guilt-Free Turkey Chili 

This is a great source of protein and very low fat, disguised by tasty flavor and a beautiful colorful appearance.  Plus it makes a huge batch so you will have an easy snack and lunch from the leftovers. 

In a large pot mix the following...

20 ounces ground turkey breast, cooked

large can diced tomatoes, with juice

2 cans black beans drained and rinsed

1 can corn drained

1 sweet onion, chopped and sauteed with EVOO until slightly crunchy 

1 large zucchini, chopped and broiled

lots of cumin, chili powder and red pepper to taste.

Simmer for an hour to let tastes blend, and serve over brown rice

You can use whatever vegetables you want to get more veggie servings, and you don't need the rice.  I usually have chili with Saltine crackers, but now I'm going for the brown rice for a serving of grains. 





My baby is 4 months!

Well actually she was 4 months on the 27th so technically she is 4 months, 1 week and 5 days.  But she had her 4 month checkup yesterday.  Her Dr is great, the best actually, and if we ever have to leave the state I think we will fly back here for our pediatrician appointments because I can't imagine seeing someone else.
Amelia's growth is perfectly in line with where it should be.  She is thriving and is very very strong.  If I didn't already know (which I do), he told me so.   We talked about food and decided that she is ready to try cereal and then some veggies.   She did rice cereal today and there is loves it and then there is LOVES it and that was my girl!  Just like her mama!!

I've got a couple things to do so forgive me if I'm scattered and rushed.  I want to get this blogged anyway though so her ya go, some pics of my sweet girl!!!

Yesterday after her well visit with her Dr her new toy was waiting for her in the mail.  So my sweety and her 2 Scooby Doo band aids played with her new toy for a little while.

Then her dad and I put her and Stifler in the car and drove to Westchase so we could take a nice walk and go to Starbucks and sit outside and drink our Frappacinos because it was Frappicino happy hour, half price at participating Starbucks this week from 3-5pm.  We came home after and took a fantastic 2 hour nap then had dinner at the Ale House.  (by the way, when I worked there 11 years ago that would have been a much more edible meal then it was last night, but the company was good).

Today I decided was the day we would start our rice cereal.  I broke the soft tipped spoons out of their package and got them clean and ready.  I mixed a little rice cereal with some pumped breast milk and put her in her high chair wearing just her diaper.  I started eating my apple and got her interested in eating and wanting to put something in her mouth.  Then she got her first bite.  She wasn't too sure at first but by the end she was licking her spoon!! and chewing at it, and talking to it.

Here's my sweety on YouTube

We did a nice warm bath after

and now while I blog about it between loads of laundry, dishes and general cleaning, she takes a nice nap in her swing.  We are going to go for an awesome walk later.  I plan to blog about our new exercise initiative one of these days but today the cuteness of the cereal victory won!

Working On My Fitness

For breakfast this morning I had a cup of coffee with cream and 5 Cadbury mini eggs.  I have a carton of real eggs in the refrigerator that I could have used to make a healthy breakfast, but those eggs are just for making brownies and cookies.  This is getting out of hand. 
I'm not going to get on the scale until I finish breastfeeding my baby.  I refuse.  I give myself until next May to be back to my prepregnancy weight.  But right now, right this minute, I really need to start making some healthy decisions.  The milk I give my baby lately has zero nutrients in it besides my prenatal vitamins.  It contains zero vegetables, and when it does, they have been simmering in a crockpot for 8 hours.  Today I resolve to eat more protein and fresh veggies every day.  I resolve to stop considering a walk around the mall with a stroller as exercise.  And I resolve to stop ordering from menus by saying "I'll take whatever you have with the most calories possible, please, and supersize it, thanks".   
Today my big plan was to go to Macys and pay my credit card and return a shirt.  Now I'm going to become more ambitios.  Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, here I come!!  And then I'm going to Publix to get veggies and I'm NOT going to put them in a crockpot.  I will eat them fresh and ready, even if it means dousing them in fattening dips and sauces.  Baby steps.  Today I will begin relearn my former love for the taste of a healthy lifestyle.  I will attempt to find a balance. 

"honey will you make me blueberry muffins for my birthday?"

Happy Birthday to my Amazing Wonderful Husband. 

I love you!

Here we are celebrating his 27th birthday in 2005.  I will let you do the math :)

last year in 2011 with our BFF Paxton

And 2012, The Happy Family. 

We took Amelia to her first Rays game today.  She's already seen her cousin Wyatt play baseball and her cousin Molly play softball too, so she's pretty well versed on the rules of the game, so she decided to sleep through most of this one, but still got to chat with lots of nice people.  Fun to see what a baby will do to even the most macho man sometimes  We had fun  :)    

To Die For Blueberry Muffins  from allrecipes

1 1/2 c all purpose flour
3/4 c white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 c vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 c milk
1 c fresh blueberries
1/2 c white sugar
1/3 c flour
1/4 c butter, cubed
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease muffin cups
Combine 1 1/2 c flour, 3/4 c sugar, salt and baking powder.  Place vegetable oil into a 1 c measuring cup.  Add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup.  Mix this with flour mixture.  Fold in blueberries.  Fill muffin cups right to the top and sprinkle wit crumb topping mixture.
To Make Crumb Topping:  Mix together 1/2 c sugar, 1/3 c flour, 1/4 c butter and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon.  Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
Bake for 20-25 minutes in preheated oven

Crockpot Curry

Well my first attempt at crockpot curry didn't turn out half bad.  I just winged it and it was so good that I want to get the recipe written down now so I have it for later.  Eventually I want to get away from canned soups, but I'm new to the crockpot and like the convenience.  Maybe I can substitute heavy cream instead one time to experiment, but in the meantime, I'm too hungry to risk not having anything edible after 6 hours of waiting.  (By the way, the house smelled so good while this curry was cooking that I filled up on snacks while waiting for it, and it was still delicious when I was full)

1 1/2 lb boneless chicken breast, frozen
1 can coconut milk
1 can cream of mushroom
1 can cream of chicken
2 Tbsp curry powder
1 heaping tsp Thai spice from my favorite Thai restaurant Sukhothai (I like it hot!)
1/2 pkg chicken bouillon
lots of cracked pepper
1 chopped white onion
5 stalks chopped celery
1 10oz pkg frozen spinach
5 small red potatos peeled and chopped into 1/2" pieces
Combine and cook on high 6 hours, then shred the chicken and serve over brown rice. 

Next time I may substitute chick peas for the potatos for more protein and less starch.

Transition

I am about to transition back into a working mommy in T minus 2 days.  Saturday at 5 I step back into the real world.  We are sure to be very busy and I am sure I will be very rusty, so hopefully I won't have too much time to dwell on how much I miss my peanut.  I'm doing a short night and will be home by 10:30 so hopefully my boobs don't explode during that time.  I've gone for longer periods before but always while sleeping.  I have a feeling that running around at work the entire time is going to feel a little different that laying in bed exhausted and comatose.  I went and got measured for comfy nursing bras (you don't want to know what size they put me in, which turns out is one size too small after a few hours with a sleeping baby) so that should help out. 

Grandma will be driving from Orlando every Saturday to stay with my angel, which is quite the hike for her, but I think she is so excited to spend time with her first granddaughter that she would drive to California and back to do it.  And words can't express how thankful I am to have someone Amelia and I both love and trust to take care of her!  THANK YOU GRANDMA! 

While I transition back to work my girl has a transition of her own to make.  Up until this week she has been sleeping in her bouncer seat every night.  I've tried to put her in her crib or bassinet but she will only tolerate them for short naps during the day.  At night she is not a fan of laying flat on her back.  And she rejects the swaddle like I reject poached eggs so that's no help.  But a few days ago I woke up to this.

I don't know how to post the video without making it a link.

So it is time for my big girl to learn how to sleep on her back.   A couple of baby steps later and I am ecstatic to announce that I have a back napper!!!

Now I need to transition to becoming a better picture adder because there is too much cuteness to fit into such a small picture but I can't figure out how to make the iphone pic bigger on here.