I felt the need to write (type) down some of my thoughts and realized its been way over a year since I last posted on my blog. My previous entry was from February 2014 and I was gearing up to get back in shape. Shortly thereafter, thanks to my dear friend Jackie (Hi Jax!), I joined a 100 Day workout challenge and loved it so much I'm still doing them. The group is run by Heather Amato who is a Gold's group fitness instructor. It goes without saying she is an incredible motivator. I switched gyms from Club Fitness to Gold's where I feel like I really found my "gym home". I have always been a class junkie, my first obsession being Turbo Kickboxing at 24 hour Fitness circa 2004. And now my favorites include: Body Combat, Body Pump, and Body Jam. Through calorie counting, following my macros and doing all my favorite classes at the gym I lost over 40 lbs. I get to the gym about 4/5 days a week and on my "off" days I usually go on walks with Sophia.
On May 26, 2015 we found out I was pregnant (yay!!!) so my fitness goals have shifted to more of a maintain situation versus weight loss. This is actually incredibly difficult for me. I thrive on pushing myself. I love the feeling of getting stronger, jumping higher, going faster, lifting heavier. So to dial things down kind of bums me out but I always remind myself to do what's best for baby. I'm almost 5 months pregnant and really starting to show! I didn't get a nice, big bump with Sophia until 7.5-8 months along. I'm thinking weaker abdominal muscles are to thanks for showing earlier this time. Boo. Hopefully, I keep my weight gain in check and will be able to bounce back fairly quickly after baby arrives.
My due date is anywhere from Jan 28 to Feb 2. I'm actually kind of hoping for a February baby because then we will have a February (baby #2), March (Sophia), April (me), and May (John) in our family. I'm crossing my fingers for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) this go around. I would like the quickest and least painful recovery possible. Who doesn't? If I thought things were difficult post c-section with Sophia I can't imagine what it would be like with an infant AND a toddler. But ultimately I will do whatever is best for baby. I had to be induced with Sophia and I've read that being induced will often end up with an emergency c-section so my goal is to stay as fit and healthy as possible and have labor start naturally on its own. I hope its not wishful thinking. Speaking of wishful thinking, I've also been contemplating going drug free with this birth. But if in a few months I share the birth story and there is mention of an epidural don't hold me to it.
In other news, Sophia is just as spirited and feisty as ever. My little independent comedian. She is deep in the throes of the terrible two's which may also be overlapping with a head start on the threenager phase. Its a wonderful storm of one second my heart absolutely melting because she is so sweet and amazing to the next second John and I looking at each other like who is this crazed little beast? I'm living in a constant state of questioning my parenting and always wondering if I'm not doing enough or maybe doing too much. My biggest fear is she will end up in therapy as an adult because I didn't know what the hell I was doing. She is so smart and clever. And I'm constantly amazed at her sense of humor. She is very outspoken and very opinionated on all topics from what she wants to wear that day to what WE should wear that day. "No banana shirt, Dada, wear chicken shirt peeeaassee" and "Mama no pants, wear pretty dress". She is still very tall for her age and people are always assuming she is older than she is. Which is kind of funny sometimes, but other times (when better behavior is expected) I'm like cut her some slack she's not even two and half. Lately she has been flip flopping on who is her favorite parent. Pitting us against each other to win her affections. Clever, see? I was the favorite for 2+ years, then out of nowhere Daddy became the favorite. What?? This fun time included not wanting to hold my hand and only letting Dada put her down for bed. This left me in tears on a couple of occasions. Having your sweet little girl push you away while saying "NO Mama, go on!" is pretty heart breaking. Especially being hormonal and pregnant and also because bed time is one of my favorite times of day. Its a time of cuddles, hugs, kisses, and snuggles (and the sweet relief from parenting duty). I'm happy to report this week I'm the favorite once again!!
More current Sophia facts:
Age: Almost 2.5!
Weight: 38.4 lbs
Height: 40.5 inches
Not potty trained.
Giggles and gives hi-fives when she farts.
Prefers to be naked. She calls this Nakey Baby.
Still sleeps in her crib and we have no plans to move her into a bed until she wants to.
Her favorite place is the zoo.
2nd favorite is the library.
Her most requested activity is "Water Park at Home". This is what she calls playing in her baby pool.
2nd most requested activity: going to a party with hot dogs and fireworks. Apparently, Fourth of July made quite an impression on her.
She hates wearing dresses and only likes to wear very soft and broken-in (raggedy) t-shirts and shorts. I blame John for this as it is his style as well.
She hates to have her hair brushed and her face washed. So a lot of the time she looks like a tiny homeless person terrorizing Ballwin. Recently, we have gotten over the face washing hatred if I talk gently and wipe her face VERY softly. Slowly, I am gaining trust with the native.
Her favorite breakfast: NONE. Getting her to eat in the morning is quite a challenge. Another mark in the Just-Like-Daddy column.
Favorite lunch: cheese quesadilla and black beans from Qdoba
Favorite dinner: chicken, brown rice and broccoli
Favorite fruits: apples, strawberries and blueberries
Favorite dessert: ICE CREAM
Favorite color: pink (this answer is very surprising considering she's a little tomboy that prefers cars to princesses)
Favorite movies: Monsters Inc, Lego Movie, Up, Ice Age
She still uses a binky at night and sometimes in the car. She has a baby blanket she calls nigh-nigh that we take everywhere with us although it stays in the car.
Favorite songs: Walk by Foo Fighters, Happy by Pharrell and the Miss Piggy/Celine Dion collaboration from the Muppets sequel. Sophia is a sucker for a nice ballad.
Talking in full sentences. When asked a question she will say "hmm" and then give a thoughtful answer. Understands the concepts of today, tomorrow, later, soon, and maybe. Knows a few days of the week. Knows shapes, colors and can count. Still trying to get her to sing the ABC's. She likes to sing Let it Go and Happy Birthday. She likes for me to sing the Meatball Song and The Batman version of Jingle Bells.
Pats my tummy and says Hi Baby Sister.
Overall, tantrums included, it has been an amazing summer. Swimming at the pool, zoo trips, science center, her first ever movie theater experience, lots of concerts at the park and fun festivals. And the icing on the cake is being pregnant. At our 16 week ultrasound they could not tell if it was boy or girl, so we will find out the gender from the Panorama blood test I took. Hopefully we find out this week! I'm still quite convinced its a girl, I even have a girl name picked out. It will be a HUGE surprise if we find out we're having a boy.
UPDATE: WE FOUND OUT ITS A GIRL!!!!!
Next posts will include a more in depth look at gym life, work, home, babies and marriage. There's a lot to catch up on. Below are some pictures from our summer.
