Body After Baby Challenge: We Made It!

Samantha at MamaNotes hosted the Body After Baby Challenge: Fit by Labor Day. Well, it's Labor Day. It's been 8 long weeks and I'm glad that I participated.

I didn't reach all my goals, but I feel a lot better about myself. My main goal was to lose about 8 pounds so that I would fit back into some of my prepregnancy clothes. I lost 7 pounds that I was able to keep off!! I'm back in my "skinny" clothes and it feels great.

I kind of fell of the wagon as far as toning up. I did try to lift weights a couple times a week, but this one was a lot harder for me to stay motivated with.

I have started to eat much healthier since the challenge began. I know that I will stick with my healthier eating habits because it sets a good example for Fiona and it makes me feel so much better. I have noticed that when I choose to eat something like fast food, now I feel really icky after eating it. I'm feeling better eating salads and healthier options. That doesn't mean I'm depriving myself by any means. I still eat whatever I want, just in much smaller portions and I just don't want the unhealthy option as often.

Go here to look at the before picture (I was too lazy to upload it again). Finally, the after picture:

This challenge has helped to me feel better about myself and develop healthier habits in my life. Thanks Samantha for hosting it!! Head over to MamaNotes to check out all the after pictures.

Boxes

Why do we bother to buy toys for babies/children? Remember how I said that I wasn't sure if Fiona was more excited about the box or the car seat? It's because she has spent every free moment since we took the car seat out of the box, playing with and in the box.

When you get a box you should always check to make sure all the sides are secure. Also make sure to bring your blankie. You never know when you might need it.

Hours and hours of fun. That means lots of quiet time for Mommy :)

This box playing is serious business, Mom.

And of course, what fun would it be without your best friend?

It's so Pink!

Recently we discovered that Fiona was quickly approaching the maximum weight for her infant car seat. After lots of hours of researching car seats, I found a good deal on a Britax Boulevard. I will admit, I was pretty darn excited when the UPS guy dropped this box off.

Fiona was pretty excited as well. However, I'm not sure if she was more excited about the pretty pink car seat or the box it came in (more on that in another post).

Doesn't it make her look small? I can't imagine what a newborn would look like in that car seat.

Nathan was not overly excited about how bright pink and girly the car seat is, but I think Fiona likes it. Mommy certainly does.

I figured it was pretty safe to go with pink considering she will probably have to sit in this until she is 6 at the rate she's growing ;) I hope she doesn't get sick of the pink and flowers.

If you peek into our backseat there sure isn't any mistaking that we have a girl :)

Baby Bug

Okay, listen up people. Everybody needs to stop getting pregnant ... RIGHT NOW! It seems like there are a TON of people I know getting pregnant recently. Thoughts are trying to creep into MY head and that is just not cool. I'm not ready for another baby yet. Fiona was SOOOO challenging as a newborn. I didn't think I would survive that time. She is finally getting to an age where she is a lot of fun to play with and a pretty independent booger. This means I get to actually do things like go to the bathroom, shower, eat, etc. I'm enjoying this time. I'm not ready to go back to the land of the walking dead that is life with a newborn.

But, then I hear about yet another person who is pregnant and I do silly/crazy things, like looking back at pictures like this:

and this.

Then I think, oh but she was so sweet and tiny and it makes me want another one. I think you need to lock me up in the funny farm. Seriously, what sane person has thoughts about having another baby when they still don't get to sleep through the night and never have a moment to themselves as it is? I think I need an intervention before this gets serious. The even scarier part, we had a little "scare" a few weeks ago. When I told Nathan that it was "all clear", he said he was a little disappointed. I think the baby bug may be trying to bite him too.

What it comes down to is that all you people need to stop getting pregnant. Or at least stay far, far away from me. I hear this baby fever is contagious ;)

Sunday Brunch and 9 Month Stats

On Sunday, Fiona and I went to brunch with a couple of my best friends from high school. Our friend, Lynn was in town for the weekend, so we all met up at IHOP. We had a great time catching up and eating some yummy pancakes (I had chocolate chip, mmm). Fiona enjoyed the pancakes and the attention, of course.

Eileen, Beth, and Fi

The pink side of the table. We honestly did not coordinate our outfits, or maybe we did.

Me, Lynn, and Fi

It was fun, and we need to do that way more often than we do. Especially since 3 of use are in town, so no excuses. Well, I suppose they both have the excuse of being fairly new teachers at the beginning of the school year. Anyway, we parted with the promise of getting together more frequently, and I plan to hold them to their word.

On another completely unrelated note, Fiona had her 9 month well baby visit. Any guesses on her weight?

Here are her stats:

Weight: 17 pounds 9.5 ounces, 26th percentile
Height: 27.25 inches, 37th percentile
Head Circumference: 44.5 cm, 65th percentile

So she's still a little peanut, but with her Daddy's large noggin. Everything else at the visit was pretty uneventful. She is hitting all her milestones and they of course poked her a couple of times, which she was thrilled about.

Lastly, I leave you with a picture from our baby playdate the other week. It isn't the best picture to illustrate this, but you can get an idea. Both these babies are pretty close to the same age as Fi, but are in closer to the 90th percentile. No surprise she is in about the 25th percentile. She pretty much avoided the other babies at the playdate and did her own thing. She sure loves to look at pictures of her baby friends though.