I was out with a girlfriend and our kiddos yesterday and we got on the subject of how moms compare their kids.  It’s amazing how quickly moms fight to make sure their kid is the biggest, strongest and best at everything.

But there is a fine line between bragging, and comparing.

I got to thinking about this even more after our conversation.  Why do we as parents feel the need to compare our children? You better believe I’m gonna brag on my kid and share with the world every detail of her life. I mean come on, the fact that she can toot and spit up at the same time is AWESOME.

My kid came out practically a toddler and skipped the “baby” stage, therefore she has been a little more ahead of the curve on some things.  But there are also some things it took her longer to pick up on.  I hope that I am never the mother that is constantly comparing her children to others.  I hope I embrace every stage they are in, and don’t wish for more.

I encourage you moms & dads to not compare your kids! Be thankful for the blessings that they are, and thankful for the stage they are in.

Munchkin has been showing signs of being ready for solids for a while now, and after her 4 month check up the doctor confirmed that she is indeed more than ready! Our little overachiever! Sunday, to celebrate being 4 months old we gave her some cereal.  She did amazing and loved it!

Here goes nothing…

I am planning to make all of her baby food and I’m excited to do so. I’ve been studying up on the best foods for baby and making a eating schedule for the next month or so for her (the ocd part of me sometimes takes over my new laid back mommy status…).

A couple good sites I like for help with making baby food:
http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

She’s really enjoying getting something more, even if more of it ends up on her than in her! By day 2 she was already closing her mouth around the spoon and swallowing more. Serious overachiever.

Any tips for my new solid eating girl?

On Friday I completed one of the more difficult things I’ve ever done.  And I thought pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding were rough….Jillian Michaels made that all seem like a cake walk.

I’m officially SHREDDED.

A lot of people have been asking my opinion on the 30 Day Shred, so here you have it!

PROS:
-It’s a super short, super intense workout.  If you don’t want to spend 2 hours at the gym, this pretty much packs it in for you.
-Results.  It actually works!!
-You can do it in your underwear. (Ok, I never did, but I guess you could if you wanted?)
-It works out pretty much every single muscle in your body at once.
-There are different levels, and modified versions if you aren’t as awesome as Jillian.
CONS:
-I was a little dissapointed that I didn’t lose more weight.  I still have 10lbs of lingering baby weight and was hoping this would help a ton, but I gained so much muscle it pretty much all evened out.
-It’s pretty tough on the knees. Be sure and really stretch before you workout.
-You sweat a LOT.
-Your 4 month old baby laughs at you. Sometimes that just hurts my feelings.
-It’s an everyday thing, so it’s sometimes tough to squeeze a workout in if you’re super busy.
-For 20 minutes, you actually feel like you might die.

Before the 30 Day Shred, I could not do a push up, a sit up and could barely lift my baby.  Now I’m proud to say I can do push ups, sit ups and I don’t feel like I’m going to pass out just walking up stairs! I still have a long way to go to get back to my pre-baby body, but this has really helped me get so much closer.  At 4 months post partum, I’m well on my way!

I highly recommend this workout! But if you start it, keep it up & don’t quit!! Good luck!!

Welcome to {life.love.lens} as I share with you a picture a day of the coolest tiny person in my life. Check back every Friday for a look at the week through my lens!

Week 17 – {July 16 – July 22}

Friday 7/16 – Strolling around at Huntington Beach Central Park

Saturday 7/17 – Just waaaaaay cute

Sunday 7/18 – First time in the nursery at church!

Monday 7/19 – Spending a little time reading and learning. We love books!

Tuesday 7/20 – Grocery shopping with mommy! The moby wrap is a lifesaver.

Wednesday 7/21 – Hanging at the pool with friends

Thursday 7/22 – She loves her bedtime stories!

I am a very organized, by the book, on the verge of obsessive compulsive type of person.  I love lists, calendars and discipline. I like being on time, or even a bit early. If you want something planned down to the detail, I’m your girl.

Then I became a mom.

Wow, did it all change instantly.  I’m now at LEAST 30 minutes late to everything we do (I was an hour and a half late to meeting up with friends yesterday…seriously…who am I!?!). My house is more of a mess than ever.  I am looking at little cities of dust growing on my tv, and actually forgot to put something in my calendar this week and almost missed an appointment.

I’m being stretched, and honestly I’m ok with that.  I am a way more laid back mom than I ever expected to be.  There’s something about that little person that makes me throw the rules out the window and just enjoy her.  It’s the greatest thing in the world! Sure, it’s a learned flexibilty and I’m slowly becoming ok with our new lifestyle, but loving every second of it.

Luckily, my daughter is as obsessed with her daily schedule at 4 months old as I am with mine.  That’s my girl.

Did becoming a mom or dad change you in this way? Did it make you more or less flexible?

If I’ve learned anything about being a mom, it’s that you can’t always get what you want.  It’s not about you anymore, and everything you do is for this tiny little person.  But I’ve also learned to not set expectations.  This is where I failed myself.  I went through {an extremely rough} pregnancy expecting it to all end once the baby arrived.  But then there was healing from a c-section, losing weigh, a whole new dose of hormones…and breastfeeding.

Yikes.

I expected this to be easy.  I actually remember saying that it would come easily and be no problem.  No one really tells you that it might not go as perfectly as planned.  The first few days went great and I thought it was going to be great for us…then it all exploded.  Munchkin destroyed me.  I got two rounds of mastitis, and even ended up in the emergency room.  A lingering infection for 4 months that no doctors could explain.  We finally got to the point that it was too much torture, and my sanity was hanging by a thread.

Although it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, I don’t regret it for a second.  My baby got a great start.  It literally broke my heart to put her on formula, but I know it’s the best thing for both of us.  I’m thankful that I did everything I possibly could to make it work, even though it didn’t work out for us.

No you can’t always get what you want…but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.  Munchkin will always get what she needs, even if it’s not what I want.

Welcome to {life.love.lens} as I share with you a picture a day of the coolest tiny person in my life. Check back every Friday for a look at the week through my lens!

Week 16 – {July 9 – July 15}

Friday 7/9 – Mimi & Poppy came out to visit and babysat
several times so mommy and daddy could have some time together!

Saturday 7/10 – Starting to roll around in her crib.
Found her like this in the morning!

Sunday 7/11 – Picnic at the park after church!

Monday 7/12 – Morning playtime with Jack

Tuesday 7/13 – Walking dowtown with Mommy in Moby Wrap

Wednesday 7/14 – Starting take a couple bottles a day in her chair,
getting ready for solids soon!

Thursday 7/15 – Lunch with Daddy!

I put on a little more weight than expected with my pregnancy. Since everything but chocolate made me puke, I pretty much lived on peanut butter sandwiches and chocolate milk…and a TON of it. I still have 10lbs to go, and am working my tush off to get there. I hate workout videos, but decided to give in and try out the 30 Day Shred.

Bad decision.

Ok, maybe not that bad. But I’ve never wanted to quit something more and never been so sore. Having to do the workout every single day is brutal and exhausting on my extremely out of shape body. But I’m actually beginning to see results which is really exciting! Today is Day 20, and the last day of Level 2. Tomorrow I begin Level 3, which might actually destroy me.

Jillian, you’re killing me here.