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Battle of the Bulge(s)

Perhaps some of you may remember back in the day when I was a few slices of cake away from 250 pounds. It took me a good two + years to slim down to 175 pounds-- which is just flirting the ideal weight range for my height and build. I've recently retired my broken scale that lied by about 10 pounds and replaced it with a cheap but accurate one. I know my correct weights because Doctor office chart notes and the gym scale are depressingly accurate.

Now why am I going here when this blog has been specifically baby blog?? Well I suppose because health (physical, mental, and familial included here) has become almost an obsession of mine. A healthy obsession [hardy har har]! And it is intrinsically tied with motherhood. I am also recently inspired to write about this history of mine after picking up the book, The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl. And most importantly, I'm striving to incorporate healthy living as part of the foundation for my little family.

Over my whole pregnancy, I gained close to 45 pounds (the extra five crept in when you count the last minute bloating). I've successfully shed all but about ten of those pounds. The first 15 came off in a big swoop, the remaining weight much much slower. It's hard to find a balance of exercise and proper nutrition without compromising my milk supply. Thus I have to push the oatmeal, nuts , grains , more oatmeal, occasional slice of cake, dairy, and even more oatmeal. I have such a skinny baby, I am in no way trying to restrict my diet. It's a struggle for me to find the middle ground. A daily struggle. So I write everything I eat down so I can track not only my nutrition but that I am getting enough.

So here I am at four months post prego trying to find that happy medium and with only a few more bulges to go:













































And for fun, here's me at not even my heftiest: (click on it to enlarge the large)

4 Months

We had our four-month check up today and our little string bean is measuring in at 26 inches long (86th percentile) and 12 pounds, 3 oz (6th percentile). Since he didn't lard up as much as we were hoping, we're going to supplement during the days when I'm at work-- this shouldn't have any impact on my supply since I'll be pumping just as much as always.

Sigh...I'll attribute it to his athletic feats-- burning up that mama milk before he can even start stashing it away. Other than his weight, he's healthy, active, alert, and meeting his developmental milestones.

Bath video

There's nothing remarkable about this video aside from just ridiculous cuteness to appease the long-distance folks....

Nubby knees

Have I mentioned his knees??? That when they're extended, they wrinkle into an irresistible nub nub of kissable cuteness. And yet another reason why I am so enamored with this big, squirmy ball of adorable baby. His grins are the best of course. Huge! Wide-eyed. And laughing. His eyes really do laugh. And then you're so overwhelmed by his charm, nothing can compare. Have I mentioned how he sucks on his lower lip, making tiny saliva bubbles wriggle out the corners of his mouth while his eyes dart from side to side in cute curiosity? Then he chomps down on his hand and makes a few grunts and happy baby coos.

Now I understand why older ladies and older gents just break out into huge grins as I carry the charmer by. Thy seriously can't get enough baby. I can't get enough baby. Babies are addicting. It's a supreme place to be snuggling next to my big ball of cuteness. It really can't get much better than this.


P.S. You'd be surprised at what this baby can do to grown scruffy men. They turn into big piles of mush.

It's just a bit of plastic

"You are not a pacifier; you are a Mom. You are the sun, the moon, the earth, you are liquid love, you are warmth, you are security, you are comfort in the very deepest aspect of the meaning of comfort.... but you are not a pacifier!" -- Paula Yount

I found this tonight and it got me thinking. Sure, it sounds a bit new-agey, but it reminds me that I can't compare myself to a little bit of cold, hard plastic. Because, yes I have found myself whining about being a "human pacifier" on more than one occasion. I forget that, as a mother, I am formulated to soothe and nurture this little being perfectly. Like emotional puzzle peices. Or like how my hips have widened just so from my pregnancy that he rests upon them comfortably when I carry him at my side. Yin and Yang.

Look What We Can Do...

Playing in the park

3 Months, 3 Weeks

Now, I never expected such a sweet, innocent baby to expel such horrendous flatulent feats. Oh my god it smells...worse than that garbage bag you forgot to take out before leaving on your vacation. I have on countless occasions actually held Thurston out at arms length in hopes that he'll air out a bit. I mean, seriously, what is this kid eating???

P.S. I was joking...we're still exclusively mama-milk fed these days.

I was at Everyday Music last night perusing cheap VHS while Dave was scanning records (surprised?). Thurston was strapped to me ala moby wrap and just carrying on an incredibly interesting conversation to some invisible creature to my left. An older gentleman came up and started talking to Thurston, who happily cooed back. He moved out of Thurston's sight and Thurston started screatching. It was clear he still had something important to say. I turned so Thurston could 'talk' to the stranger some more and he just happily cooed and babbled away. Oh boy...what does this mean for when he's a two-year-old and starts to grasp the meaning of conversation?

Thurston has also begun to learn the art of ...dun dun dun...GRABBING!!! Oh and his favorite thing to do is clanch onto a big tuft of my hair. Sometimes he likes to munch on it but it usually involves some type of pulling. OW! He also is fascinated with trying to grab bits of our face. If I'm close enough, he'll snatch at my mouth and tug at my cheeks and then give me a huge grin. He's pretty proud of this.



Thurston and his super cool sock monkey:


















Climbing on Dad:























"Papa, hey look at me! Look at me! Hey Papa! Look what I can do!"











































This was right before another good show of flatulence.

3 Months, 2 Weeks

Met a six-week-old yesterday at Target who was bigger than Thurston! But...I swear my little guy grew an inch over night and the crease in his leg chub got more definition over the past week. He is straddling 0-3 and 3-6 clothes because he is so long but he still is a skinny little worm next to his pal, Declan, who is almost three weeks younger. The other day I stopped to chat with another lady and her baby. Her first remark was, "oh that's a little one!" - insinuating his age. Turned out Thurston is two days older than her 'little' bundle. I have to remind people to look at his length - sure he's small, but he's a professional basketball player next to your chubbo! But frankly, I can't wait for him to lard up some more.

Just how much have I grown??

May 4, 2009:
























July 27, 2009:

14 Weeks (3 months, 1 week)

I've been back at work for the past three weeks. The first week was hell. Thurston was refusing the bottle and Dave was at the end of his rope. I was going home on my lunches to nurse. However, now Dave is a pro and Thurston takes the bottle no problem. I thought it would be weird to pump at work but it's not that bad. It gives me a chance to relax and connect with my little guy. He's three months, 1 week and 100% breastfed. My goal is to make it to a year.

He's still really skinny, which had me worried so I scheduled a check up for today. He's measuring 25" long and 11 pounds, 14.5 oz. He's in the 16th percentile in weight and 80th in length! LONG and skinny! The doctor isn't too concerned and thinks part of his low weight could be his transition to the bottle.

In other news, Trish had Lilly Thursday morning. She is so beautiful! She looks so much like her handsome big brother. Dave and I wish we could visit but we'll get to see her when they come up for our wedding. I can't wait!