Rants, Recipes, and Running

 Well, I missed month 1-8. But it is never too late to begin, right? Here is a recap of Maddy at 8 months. (I'm totally stealing this idea from my sister, Lisa. I thought it was so neat that she recaps her son's favorites and happenings every month)   How am I sleeping? Better than I was - but not as good as my peers. It also depends on if I'm teething. Last week, her 2nd tooth was poking through - so she was awake 3 times.  No matter how much I let her cry it out, I cannot seem to cut down her feedings. When I go in there - she is literally pulling at my shirt with her mouth wide open. So clearly she's hungry.  She eats 2 times/night and luckily goes right back to sleep. It is what it is. What am I eating? While we have had breastfeeding and bottle refusal struggles - I am so glad that taking to food as been relatively smooth. We are doing baby led weaning, and Maddy really enjoys most every food I've given her.  Her favorite foods are scrambled eggs, appl...

 Dear Sleep, My distant dear friend, I know we have become distanced over the last 7 months. In fact, I don't believe we have spent more than 3 hours together since February 12. (For I didn't sleep the nights leading up to labor). Please keep in touch and, while we don't spend as much time together anymore, I'd like to rekindle our relationship at your soonest convenience.  Truth be told...It's not you, it's me. Actually...it's not you...it's Maddy. :D We have reached a level of sleep deprivation that one morning this weekend I woke up to myself talking. Apparently, I had been telling Ryan (repetitively) "I don't understand why she's already awake. Why isn't she sleeping." And he was trying to explain to me that she was , indeed, asleep. He even had our Owlet camera pulled up to show me. It was very confusing for both of us because I was talking in my sleep, and neither of us was aware... And that's how tired I am. I don't f...

 I went through my old posts - and it was funny seeing the last time I did this in February, I started it off by saying "This is my last Currently post before being a Mom". Well...here I am. A Mom.  It's funny how much I've changed since February 12, 2021 :)   Reading :  The Wife Between Us. It's a psychological thriller and it's been a nice and easy read. I actually had to put it down the other night because the foreshadowing was getting too scary for me. Thinking: About some new "career"-ish endeavors. I had some significant struggles with breastfeeding the 1st 3 months of motherhood. Recently a friend sent her niece my way who was struggling, and I was actually able to help her out and it was very rewarding. I'm looking into becoming a La Leche League advocate - which is a volunteer role. I could take things a step further eventually, and become a lactation consultant (maybe once our children are older and school aged). So for now...this volun...

I've been in a bit of a haze over the past 7 months. I wouldn't say I'm out of the haze. But I'm coming up for air.  Let me bullet point-style and unload my soul. As I feel these are pivotal life moments that need to be documented somewhere... Maddy had growth issues. I had breastfeeding issues. It took many pediatrician appointments, 6 lactation consultant appointments, Gallons of tears, and so many prayers - but somehow Madelyn has gone from being in the 1st percentile to the 13th percentile as an exclusively breastfed baby. If our next baby has issues - I am going to come back to this bullet point as a reminder. It took work. It took a supportive husband. It took professional help. It took many text messages and phone calls to my sisters, Mom, and some good mama friends. But...we got there.  We have had some awesome family visits - my parents stayed here for 2 weeks after Madelyn was born, my brother Kevin and his family came in April, Ryan's sister Erin came in ...

On February 15 at 2:33 pm we welcomed our beautiful, sweet, little baby Madelyn Claire into this world. I better document this story before it gets hazy in my mind during these busy, sleepless newborn days.  We checked into the hospital at 9pm on her due date to be induced- Valentine's Day! We joked about how this is a Valentine's Day we will never forget ;)  Why did I get induced? My OB doesn't like you to go too far past your due date. And I just had this feeling that this was a good choice. In hindsight, we are really glad I went with my gut as she did have meconium in the amniotic fluid! So she was ready to go.  The induction method was using this cervical tablet that is inserted to help with effacement and then we would start pitocin. My birth plan was to try to go without an epidural, if possible. But I was realistic that this may change as things progress. Especially with pitocin... Within 30 minutes of receiving the tablet, the contractions started firing. I worke...

Alright 3rd trimester running recap! Here we go!  I am getting induced in a few hours (eek!), I'm 40 weeks, and I had my final run this morning...so I can safely say I am DONE pregnant running (until next time...) Again, I expect no one to read this.  This is sort of my "diary" to look back on next pregnancy.  What was different about 3rd Trimester from 2nd trimester? The sore calves really kicked in around 30 weeks! Which makes sense...b/c I am carrying more weight than my body is used to. That was really the only discomfort I experienced running.  Weekly avg mileage & pace? Pre-Pregnancy "avg" Road Pace:  7:45/mile Pre-Pregnancy Road half marathon pace:  7:00/mile Pre-Pregnancy Tempo Pace:  6:45/mile "Avg" Road Pace 1st Tri:  8:40/mile (but it is also averaging 85 degrees + 60% humidity every morning)  Tempo Pace 1st Tri:  7:30/mile (but I can hold it for very long because it's so hot) Avg Road Pace 2nd Tri:  8:20/mile (notice...

"She will come when she is ready" The most annoying phrase of the week.  Thank you for your wise insight. I had no idea that was how this whole pregnancy, labor, and delivery concept works.  Also, when someone is sleeping about 4 hours/night for the past week - telling them "she will come when she's ready" is so therapeutic. I was tired, uncomfortable, impatient, and anxious... But now I feel s o much better knowing such valuable information.  ( Ha! :D )  Okay okay, I'll end my rant. You know I have to rant. I know these comments of insightful and wise advice aren't meant to be annoying. But, they are annoying.  I've been pregnant for 39 weeks and 5 days, my house is 100% ready for a baby, I'm not sleeping well - and I am very aware that babies come when they are ready.  And just to add, I've heard this from a handful of friends/colleagues this week. I never once asked them "when is this baby going to come?". this has been their re...