It's Been A Rough Week

Poor Evie...

Her first tooth came in on Monday😩  I didn't even know she was teething! Our daycare provider told me she had a (bottom) tooth and I didn't believe it. I felt ridiculous for not noticing. She had been drooling a lot and chewing on everything, but teething was not on my radar because she's only 18-weeks! I'm not ready for this!

Then, she woke up on Tuesday with rash around her armpits and neck. She didn't seem bothered by it so we took her to daycare. Two hours later they called and said it spread all over her body. We took her to the pediatrician and found out she has a viral exanthem😒  This girl just can't catch a break.

Fortunately, I had Wednesday off. She took extra long naps and we spent a good portion of the day snuggling and reading books... silver lining.

Weekend Update

It was a hot one! We were over 90 degrees all weekend. It felt great... reminds me of Iowa summers👌

We went to Brent and Molly's on Friday night. Molly grilled burgers, we drank GT's and had lots of baby time. It was the perfect summer night!

Baby Blair full of smiles!

Ev & Molly

Taste of Tacoma was going on this weekend. We went on Saturday afternoon, but didn't stay long because it was so hot. I did manage to find the Fisher scones😍 and they were selling strawberry shortcake!

Lined up for apps

This was yum

Dad life

We can't go into the drinking tents at these event anymore so we had to stop at The Defiant Goldfish on the walk back for a quick cider (and IPA for Brady).

Beer and baby toys 

Love this little smile!

My fave

Sunday was Evie's first trip to the pool. She seemed indifferent to the whole thing. She didn't mind being in the water, but wasn't excited to play... probably just felt like bath time. We splashed around in the baby pool for 15 minutes, but really loved carrying her around the big pool. 

Finally got to wear her swimsuit!

Time for a dip

Swimming with Dad

Mother Load

I finally reached my pre-pregnancy weight. It feels great, but I still have a lot of toning to do. 

My goal was to fit in my regular pants by the time I returned to work. I went back at 14-weeks postpartum and (thankfully) I did not have to buy new pants🙌 I've been tracking my weight loss and postpartum milestones in my journal because I knew I would be curious about this in the future. It's also been a good source of motivation. There's nothing worse than writing down the same weight two weeks in a row. 

I gained 37 lbs. during my pregnancy. I lost 17 lbs. within the first week. I was feeling pretty good, but then the weight loss halted. It didn't just melt away with nursing like I was hoping. Diet and exercise were crucial to my weight loss. 

I did my first workout at 17-days postpartum. It was just an arm circuit, but it felt great. The next day I felt ready for cardio - 2 miles on the elliptical. I worked out 3 times a week (walking, elliptical, circuits) until week 5.

We went to California week 4-5. I felt disgusting. I was wearing shorts and swimsuits and that was all the motivation I needed. I did my first postpartum run in San Diego. I ran 2 miles and it felt incredible! I was very sore afterwards, but the best kind of sore. I worked out every day from that point until my hip surgery (week 10). I used the Kayla Itsine's Bikini Body Guide for circuits 3 days a week and I ran the other 4 days of the week. 

In addition to my exercise regimen, I was very strict with my diet. I kept a food journal, tracked my water intake, and started cooking. I focused on incorporating whole-grain carbs, lean protein and healthy fats... it's been a lot of oatmeal, avocado toast, salmon, chicken, eggs, quinoa, salads, sweet potatoes, berries, and protein shakes. 

Since having hip surgery at 10-weeks postpartum the only workouts I've been able to do are walking, arms, and abs. I feel like I've lost a lot of muscle, but I've been warned (numerous times) by my ortho to take it slow. I'm desperate to go for a run again😩 For now, I continue to focus on my diet -"eat lean and clean" is my new mantra.  

Here's how the weight came off...

Here are some of favorite things to eat...

Overnight oats - 1/2 C oats, 1/2 C coconut milk, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 banana, cinnamon, maple syrup and fruit on top

Avocado, egg, sriracha on whole-grain toast

Protein shake - ice, coconut milk, one scoop protein powder, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1tbsp chia seeds, 1 banana

Roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers 

Favorite on-the-go snacks are kombucha, snapea crisps, Larabars, almonds, tuna packets

Good Stuff

A few stand-out products I've discovered in the past couple months...

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Larabars are my new favorite snack. I always crave something sweet in the afternoon and these satisfy that craving. There are only four ingredients - cashews, dates, chocolate chips, sea salt. They are so soft and chewy and delicious. 

Nearly finished then remembered to take a photo

Unite 7Seconds Leave-In Conditioner has a cult following for good reason. My hair has never felt better! I shower at night, use about 8 sprays then go to bed. When I wake up, my hair is soft and much more manageable. It also has thermal and UV protection. 

My hair is falling out like crazy (thank you, postpartum hormones) but at least it's soft

Mario Badescu Rosewater feels so good. I've become a big fan of face sprays. They are hydrating and refreshing. I use this spray morning and night, plus anytime I need a little pick-me-up. This one smells like a rose garden. It's heavenly.  

Let's pretend this is a rose bush and not geraniums 

GAP Softspun Knit Joggers are buttery soft. I wore them three days in row last weekend😳 They are the most comfortable pants I own. Plus, they look good - I would actually leave the house wearing these. I'm tempted to buy the other two colors.

Most days look like this - jammies (covered in spit-up) and a kombucha

Weekend Update

This weekend (and every other weekend for the past 4 months) is the definition of "mom life." Nothing thrills me more than getting laundry done or meal-prepping while Evie naps. Our big outings for weekend are walks around the neighborhood. Life has certainly changed!

Evie finally started feeling better this weekend. She's still congested and didn't sleep well, but she's more herself. We had a lot of cuddle time, but I managed to get a few things done around the house and binge watch Scandal (season 6!) on Netflix. Overall, a great weekend in my book.

Feeling much better and full of giggles 

Trying avocado for the first time. She was not a fan, but she kept it down!

Snuggles 

Meal prep. Chicken and veg for the third straight week.

It took me TWO hours to iron all of this. This is my least favorite chore so I put it off for weeks.

Colin flew into town late Saturday night. We celebrated Brady's first Father's Day with brunch at Art House Cafe. Then, Brady and Colin left for a few days of hiking and golfing in the Cascades. 

Happy Father's Day!

The gang's all here

Chorizo scramble and Bloody Mary were equally amazing

The last photo before they get lost in woods. This is the definition of "the blind leading the blind."

Random Snaps

A few photos from the past month...

Botanical Conservatory in Wright Park😍

Early mornings with my girl. She wakes up 6-7AM, even on weekends😩  It kills me, but I know it's best to keep her on her schedule

I love summer so much! Everything is alive.

Brady wearing Evie while vacuuming was the cutest thing. She loved it.

Dad sharing his lunch

Spoiled girl! Gifts from Nana Ann and Auntie Cait

Daddy-daughter bonding time - with an IPA, of course.

Weekend Update

Evie was sick this weekend😔

I had a cold last week - headache, congestion, sore throat. I thought Evie was going to escape it, but it caught up with her on Saturday night. She was congested and woke up every 2 hours. Sunday was just as bad. She was fussy and uncomfortable all day. Thankfully, we were able to have a good day on Saturday. The weather was perfect so we went out for lunch and walked through Point Defiance Park. 

Trying to roll from back to belly, but always gets stuck 

I am in love with this house and the landscape 

Lunch at Brady's favorite sandwich shop - Don Ruston's

Rose gardens

Turtles sun bathing on the rocks 

Evie tried rice cereal for the first time last Thursday and she liked it! We gave her more on Saturday 

Cider on the patio in the sunshine is the best

Brady always goes overboard when ordering sushi

Evie would not stop crying on Sunday. This mama had to escape for a walk

More beautiful roses

I force myself to find time for meal-prepping on Sundays. Protein shakes, overnight oats, and lunch (shredded chicken, wild rice, roasted veggies) ready for the week.