4 Months Postpartum Update

4 Months Postpartum 

So this is just a really quick postpartum update! I am not dieting, just eating how I normally do, choosing healthy options but still eating pastas and carb-y things like that. I have tried cutting out those things before, but I just ended up with a decreased milk supply and felt hungry all the time. Breastfeeding is no joke...you turn into this like starving crazy person. We have started Elba on some oatmeal cereal. I gave it to her for the second time yesterday and she really seemed to like it. I think once she starts up on more solids I can start weaning her a little bit so I can have a little more time during the day to do anything instead of needing to pump or breastfeed a million times a day. Don't get me wrong, I love that I was able to breastfeed, some moms don't get that bonding experience and I am so grateful that I stuck with it through the mastitis. It is a learning curve for both baby and mom, but once you get the hang of it you really enjoy those times where it is just you and babe. However, I can't wait to get like 3 hours of my day back that is often spent pumping. I have no food in my freezer...it is filled with stored bags of milk so she will be set for the next 20 years. 

As for the way my body is looking and feeling...I am definitely seeing more progress and I think I will see more progress when I don't have to sit and feed her all of the time. Once she is more mobile and getting around on her own...I know I am going to miss hanging out on the couch and just spending time with her. I am still wider and still thicker through my hip area which I don't like, but like everyone says, it took you 9 months to grow a baby give yourself 9 months to get back to where you were. I think I am within like 3 pounds or something of where I was when I got pregnant, but it isn't the same weight distribution. I was leaner and more muscular before getting pregnant and weighed close to what I do now. I am still hanging onto some fat which is expected with breastfeeding so I am just being patient and working out when I can and choosing healthy options. I can't wait to get my diet back on track though. I usually prefer a lot of veggies in my diet, but she gets gassy with most vegetables...I have tried everything and she just has a sensitive tummy with a lot of the veggies I usually eat so for now just trying to maintain a well balanced diet, but not driving myself crazy about it!

Let me know if any of you guys are on a postpartum fitness journey! We can motivate each other! I would love to hear about how everyone is doing with their postpartum experience! Feel free to chat with me below...always love to hear from you.

XO Sydney

3 Months Postpartum Update

3 Months Postpartum

So here is a quick little update for myself and for everyone else if you were interested. I love looking at other mom's postpartum updates because we all come in different shapes and sizes and it is always motivating to see where everyone else is at with their postpartum fitness journey. We can all motivate each other and support each other. 

I am slowly starting to see my obliques come back so that has been exciting! My most difficult area without a doubt has been my lower abs...which is expected. Your uterus doesn't even completely go back down to normal size for like 2 months after giving birth so I am not too hung up on my lower abs right now. I am working them out as best I can and just trying my best to remind myself it will take time. Another tough area for me right now are my hips, also expected. They are still wider than they were before birth, but they expand when you are pregnant so I am slowly waiting for the last bit of weight to come off of my hips and for my hips to go back down to size, but that can take a year or never go back down so we will see! So far my abs have come back together for the most part, when I push on my belly button I can still feel a bit of separation so again, that will take a bit more time.

My linea nigra (dark brown line running up to belly button) is still somewhat there, it didn't get too bad during pregnancy so there isn't much of it left to fade anyways. I am still hanging on to a little bit of weight to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but those pounds will likely stick around until I am done breastfeeding. I have about 6 pounds or something to get back to pre-preggo weight...I did put on about 10 lbs over the course of 6 months in order to get pregnant in the first place. I did gain the normal amount of weight during pregnancy, but because I was put on bed rest my workouts had to be haulted...so I am much softer and way less toned than I would like to be right now. 

I am seeing progress though! The human body is amazing. 

If you guys wanna keep following along with my postpartum fitness journey or enjoy reading my posts please subscribe with your email over on the right hand side of my page! I have been receiving a few emails from people who follow me through pinterest and through instagram, but I would love to get to know my fellow blog readers:)

XO Sydney 

24 weeks Pregnant Picture

Okay, so because the baby technically is supposed to be measuring the size of an eggplant from week 22-24, I did not take any formal standing up weekly comparison pictures for week 24. 

 I will however be doing so for week 25 where she will be the size of a papaya! 2 more days! YIKES. That's when most women go through a belly growth spurt. 

I cannot even imagine how big my belly will be come November! I already feel like yep....that's all the room there is...

How far along: I am 24 weeks and 5 days pregnant in the picture above!

Symptoms: Heartburn has subsided; Boobs have been hurting and radiate heat (my own personal heaters); Insomnia; Getting up to pee all night; Peeing all day; Hands swelling more after working out; Back aches when standing for too long!

Cravings: I have only wanted salad for dinner, very specific salads...like chicken apple salad with pecans. YUM.

Aversions: I am pretty burnt out on Mexican food, overly greasy things, & anything super heavy!

Wedding rings: On

Sleep: Still haven't been napping during the day. I desperately wanted to yesterday, but instead I got on the eliptical machine and worked out and got a second wind of energy...but then 10PM rolled around and I was getting really cranky and my eyes were burning...I needed sleep! Other than last night sleep has been extremely difficult for me and it does not come easy. I am usually up every hour-on the hour, whether it be to get comfortable and adjust or to get up and pee, I am just not sleeping well at all!

Excited for: I am getting excited for the fall. I am kind of done with summer and I am ready for chunky sweaters and boots. It has been a challenge getting dressed with this bump all summer that I just wind up in workout clothes all day. I am ready for leggings, sweaters, and coziness. I know that when fall comes, baby girl is right around the corner!

Missing: I think at least once a day I miss my old body, which has been consistent throughout this whole pregnancy, but I think it is just because getting dressed is difficult. I still haven't purchased any maternity clothes and I have just been making due with what I have....I miss the clothes hanging in the closet haha. My wardrobe is much more limited now. 

Movement:  I think she is just always doing cart wheels!

Dr. update: We saw him on Monday, he checked my cervix, we did a few tests like heart rate, my weight and all that. He also gave me my glucose test drink that I will have to drink an hour in advanced before my next appointment where they will check for gestational diabetes and all that good stuff. A pretty uneventful doctors appointment this time, but everything looks good and we are just chugging along. 

Exercise: Working out everyday still whether is be walking/running/eliptical machine I am getting in a good workout everyday and staying as active as I possibly can. I am pretty much moving all day whether is be taking Oak on his 3rd walk of the day or house hopping between families we rarely have any sedentary down time. It is definitely getting much more difficult to workout now though. I can feel myself getting heavier and getting winded much quicker with my organs slowly being pushed together. BUT I always feel better after a good workout and I kind of need to do it everyday to stay sane and not let hormones get the best of me.

Stretch marks: Nope!

Swelling: Only after working out will my hands swell up a bit!

Maternity clothes: NOPE! Still holding out for as long as possible, we will see though...she is going through a growth spurt all my shirts are getting shorter!

Labor signs: Nope!

What I am loving:  I am really enjoying this part of the pregnancy. It is noticeable to strangers that I am not fat and I feel somewhat balanced hormone wise....I don't feel crazy or emotional all day (just every now and then) I am not really having cravings or too bad of food aversions like I was in the beginning. Everything just seems mellow with my body. It is still an adjustment everyday, but I cannot wait til we have her in our arms. 

Best moment of this week:  I think I enjoy everyday differently. The days where my family members/siblings feel her kick to the days where it is just Zack and I watching her go on a kicking rampage in there. I think she is just making time go by so slowly because we want her here so badly!!!

xoxo Sydney

Snippets From the Last Week or So

Here are just a few pictures from the last week and a half or so....just some fitness, food, and random ones.

Fitness: These are just a few of the workout results from the past week or so, it is more for my benefit having them on here so I can look back and see where I was at during a certain time in my pregnancy.

Food and Yummies: Here are a couple random shots of some yummy food we have made, eaten, and bought over the last week or so. In no particular order...

Coffee date with my man!

These kabobs were so good! I am going to be putting the recipe on here soon. They were amazing and super easy to make!

Smoothies for lunch!

I was really craving an iced coffee and so Zack made sure it happened ;)

Breakfast!

We weren't to hungry one night so we decided to get Banzai Bowls for dinner. SO good, they are amazing.

Random Ones: A few random pictures from the last week or so...

I have been burnt out on the scent of my homemade cocoa butter stretch mark cream so I made a mango coconut one and it smells amazing. Zack loves the smell too and it has definitely been a nice break from the chocolatey scent I have been using for the past 6 months! It goes on so smoothly and sinks into the skin right away. I love it!

Snuggling up with my giant polar bear cuddle bug.

Date night for Zack and I :) 

So these pictures are kinda for myself to see what I was up to during a certain time in my pregnancy. It will be interesting to look back and see what we did and be able to tell our little girl everything we did while she was cooking in there!

xoxo Sydney 

23 Weeks Pregnant Picture

23 Weeks Pregnant Update!

***Excuse the picture, yeah this is what the 23 week one resulted in because I fell behind in the picture this week and this is all I had to work with...this is what happens when I procrastinate...after workout pictures....and no my armpit is not a raging hairy monster haha I don't know why the lighting made it look that way! So all in all, baby girl is still the size of an eggplant and will continue to be until the end of this week 

(week 24).***

How far along: I am 23 weeks and 5 days pregnant in the picture above!

Symptoms: Heartburn after anything super peppery; Leaking boobs (the best); Back aches every now and then that feel like stretching; Bloating after eating making me look twice the size I really am; Peeing...peeing and peeing; Oh, and insomnia...yay!

Cravings: This week candy has been my craving, but I have been avoiding it. It isn't like a "get me that right now" craving, but candy just sounds yummy! I haven't been giving in though. I did give in on Friday of last week I believe was the day and I got Ju-Ju Bees....a favorite! Haha.

Aversions: Nothing really! I just don't want anything too greasy or peppery because I don't want heartburn.

Wedding rings: On

Sleep: I took one nap the other day with Zack for like an hour, he slept 30 minutes, but he let me sleep longer because he knows I haven't been sleeping at night. I have stopped sleeping at night, I pee maybe 3-4 times a night. I cannot get comfortable....I dread bedtime now because I am so tired and cannot get comfortable.

Excited for: Seeing our baby girl again this coming Tuesday!

Missing: My old body, summer time is hard...but then I get to cuddle up all winter to my little babe. Getting a good nights rest. Putting on clothes that fit. Not wondering how to dress my bump without looking fat. Jacuzzi time. 

Movement:  All the time. I think she has been practicing a few dance routines in there every morning, afternoon and night. This girl never quits. It is like a permanent dance rehearsal. 

Dr. update: We see him on Tuesday!

Exercise: Last week I didn't work out as much as I would have liked, but this week I have been back at it every day. Last week was a rough week, I was sleep deprived and my back was hurting so I listened to my body and only did a few days. 

Stretch marks: No new ones!

Swelling: Nothing substantial that I have noticed yet! 

Maternity clothes: None yet!

Labor signs: Nope!

What I am loving: How quickly time is flying now. I am also getting nervous and excited because time is going by so quickly. I like that random strangers notice that I am pregnant now and not fat. That was a really uncomfortable stage of pregnancy, the "is she fat" stage haha. I have gotten the typical when are you due questions from random people out and about so at least little baby girl is making herself known now. 

Best moment of this week:  Just relaxing with Zack. It is my favorite time of the day...when the work is over and it is just him and I....and Oak and baby girl. I just love our family time. I love to feel her kick and I love when Zack feels her kicking like crazy too. It is the best feeling in the world and it is so fun watching Zack get excited and love her more every day. 

xoxo Sydney

14 Weeks Pregnant Update and Catch-Up

We are finally settled up here and everything in San Diego has been handled.  Zack will be driving back and forth to work for the next week, but then he starts his new job up here the following week. Things have been so busy and scattered that for my 14 week picture I also have some less than perfect mirror pictures after waking up in the morning. I will be posting the proper picture for the 15 week update this week also. I am behind on my posts so I am just going to bombard you guys with a bunch of posts within the next few days!

So here is the 14 week belly shot in my extremely attractive pajamas. We have still yet to unpack everything and I am having to take these in the mirror in my Dad's living room. Zack and I are staying in one of the extra rooms here at the beach while we continue the house search.  Like I said, I have the chalkboard and will be back to doing chalkboard updates for my 15 week update! Yay!

How far along: I am 14 weeks and I believe 6 days pregnant in these pictures...waited til the end again...

Symptoms: I have stopped throwing up, but I am having headaches and really bad lower back pain randomly, near my tailbone. My boobs hurt, but they are slowly feeling a little less painful.

Cravings:  I haven't been having any cravings at all. If someone mentions something for dinner or lunch that sounds good I will get excited haha, but no real cravings on my own which is nice. Still craving meat every so often. I think my body is just demanding protein right now.

Aversions: I don't really have any aversions this week either. I can't think of anything. I am finally feeling like myself again, yayy!

Wedding rings: On

Sleep: I didn't take any naps for week 14, I did start crying when it got late at night and I wasn't asleep yet but that was because we had been moving and cleaning all day, but apparently I was emotional and wanted to sleep. I felt like a toddler haha.

Excited for: Confirming the gender of our baby :)

Missing: Feeling comfortable in a bikini haha, I am still in the awkward phase of pregnancy where it is debatable on whether I am fat or pregnant. I am missing fitting into all of my old clothes comfortably and without having to try on a million things that only barely look acceptable for public. I have been living in workout clothes. 

 
Movement: None

Dr. update: We see him soon to confirm the gender, but the gender isn't a secret amongst our family we have only told a few close friends too, so we will see if the gender is different or if it stayed the same!

Exercise: Still exercising daily! Long walks and walking the dog to keep my baby and myself healthy! 

Moving on to Catch-Up

This is hopefully the last time I will have to combine two posts like this. Things are finally settling down and we are getting used to the adjustment and all of that so let's hope for the best! 

 Here are some things we have been doing, in no particular order. Just a few things that we have been doing in the past week! 

It includes mine and Zack's birthday celebrations (4 days apart from each other) and random pictures from throughout the week!

For my birthday we all went out with my family to Sundried Tomato in San Clemente and because for some reason I crave meat this pregnancy I ordered a steak....which I NEVER EVER do. We had a low key dinner, celebrated and then went on back to my Dad's to fall fast asleep because Zack had work the next day.

This was before we had gotten ready to go out for dinner, Zack surprised me with some gorgeous flowers including my favorite, gerber daisies :)

Here is another shot before we went out to dinner, lovin on my man ;)

On a different day (they have all become the same day now in the hectic process of moving), couldn't tell you which day haha, but Zack found a precious little bird learning how to fly in my Mom's backyard. It's mom was having a heart attack chirping up a storm as Zack held it so we put it back on the edge of the fence and it continued practicing how to fly. The little bird couldn't get itself off the ground so it needed an extra little help from Zack haha. BIRD WHISPERER. 

Apparently I am not feeling photogenic at 5:30 AM, this past Saturday (hey there's a day I know...only because it was ZACKS BIRTHDAY) I woke up early to take Oak on a beach trail walk because we live two steps away from the trail and I wanted to get on it before the 7 AM dog walkers. Zack ended up waking up and going on one with me, only he cheated and took the beach cruiser bike instead.

Nice and blurry, but also a nice and empty parking lot. No walkers this early:)

Hey I guess I am having pregnancy cravings because this is all I seem to want. I keep craving really cold teas and slightly sweetened drinks. I think it helps keep my blood sugar up without having to eat around the clock. I feel like I need to come with instructions...feed every 2-3 hours or else it will begin getting really mean and emotional. So Zack and I went to Lavender Lounge and I got a Decaf Strawberry Tea with Strawberry Choobies and he got a Sweetened Black Tea with Lychee Choobies....and yes we went back for refills and then I had to pee every 5 minutes for 2 hours straight. Worth it. 

We took Buddha, one of my mom's golden retrievers (one of our family dogs) that I grew up with on a hike with Oak. It was pretty hot out so we didn't stay out there for too long (and I had to pee, as always), but it was good exercise and it is always nice to do cardio outdoors rather than on a machine. 

My brother had his prom this past Saturday. So this is just a picture of my brother and his girlfriend taking pictures before prom. 

Zack and I then rushed back to his house which was only a few minutes from the picture location to head out with his family to his birthday dinner. Our birthdays' are only a 4 days apart from one another so that's always kind of fun. For Zack's birthday he was really craving Buffalo Wild Wings, so we went there to celebrate!

Just a  picture of Oak on Zack's parents porch which I posted on Instagram already, so if you follow me on there then you have already seen this adorable little face ;)