The skinny on fat

This marks my 300th blog post! A strange milestone, but a milestone nonetheless.

When I got pregnant with Hayden, I was about 125 pounds. I had been working out several days a week to get me through the deployment, and eating for one can be easy, especially when cereal is so tempting over cooking a meal. In my first trimester I cut out a lot of carbs and sugar and fat and caffeine, and was sort of miserable over it. I finally realized the secret to pregnancy was listening to my body, and that a little mac 'n cheese was not going to doom my baby to a life of obesity. I was much happier when I figured it out.

This time around, I am nowhere near the size I was before Hayden. Call it working full time with a husband that works nights and having no time to work out, or call it lazy. Either way, I'm not as active as I was and my eating habits can definitely use a change. Is pregnancy the time to go on a diet? Yes and no. Depriving my body of the junk I don't need? Absolutely. Counting calories and going hungry? Not exactly a recipe for a healthy mom and baby. This time around, I realize a little more that it's weight, and it can be lost. There's something freeing about realizing that while it's harder to lose it than to gain it, it's just weight. I have a plan for what I might do after the baby is born, but for now I'm enjoying my pregnant body and watching my baby grow. And still eating cereal for dinner sometimes.

Fancy pants

Saturday evening, we had a coupon for a free entree at Macaroni Grill that had to be used Labor Day weekend. We decided to wait until later in the evening, since Hayden had a long afternoon nap. We were getting dressed and Hayden was a little confused about where his dinner was!

Hayden: I eat pea-butter jelly on it. Sammich.
Mom: No baby we're going out to eat in just a minute.
Hayden: I eat chicken-french-fries-chockit-milk
Mom: Oh no sweetheart, we're going out for SPECIAL dinner, somewhere fun!
(pause)
Hayden: I eat chicken NUGGETS?? *eyes wide with excitement*

Yeah, he doesn't get out much. At least not out to eat, apparently.

Doctor Appointment

Today I had a quick check-up to see how mom and baby were doing! Quick pee-in-a-cup, weight and blood pressure, then to the exam room. A swift check with the heart rate monitor and baby was strong and steady at 138 BPM. Talked to the doc about a few things, talked about our next appointment and then I was done!

It's nice that it's quick, but still a good monthly reminder that baby is growing like he or she is supposed to. In 20 days, we'll go back for another appointment for an ultrasound! Less than three weeks til we (hopefully!) find out if baby Rogers is a boy or a girl!

Refined palate

Tonight, Hayden requested his new favorite, pea-butter jelly-on-it. He can't seem to get enough of the PB&J, and lately can't get enough of whatever mommy may be doing in the kitchen. He is very eager to help, and I encourage it because that's exactly how I learned to cook. He gets frustrated when he can't cook, stir hot things or touch raw meat, but a mom's gotta draw the line somewhere. While making the sandwich...

Hayden, picking up the top to the PB: I wan' lick it! 
Mom , exactly one moment too soon:  Oh no baby we don't...well we aren't SUPPOSED to lick that.
Hayden: Mmmm is tasty! 

I have no idea where he picked up "tasty" but it sure is funny for us!

Getting caught up

These days, we do our best just to get through the days! For two weeks in mid-August our office uproots and moves downstairs so we can serve a larger group of students during open registration. For me, this means getting to work by 730am so I can find parking, get to my desk and be up and running before 8. We work all day, take lunch, and try to get out by 7pm each night. Getting to work by 730am means getting up by 530 am to get myself and Mr. Hayden ready and out the door by 630am. Luckily there's no traffic at 630am so we can get where we're going in good time. For Jay and Hayden, it means dinners together (without mom), baths (without mom) and getting to see mom for about 15-20 minutes before they go to work (Jay) and bed (Hayden). It means little house work is getting done, only the laundry we need, and poor Oscar gets no fun. The weekends rarely slow down, which makes for one tired family!

But our downstairs time ended last week, and even with a busy weekend we're managing to get things back on track. Monday afternoon I got off at 5, was home by 530 and we were eating dinner by 630. Together. As a family. Amazing! After dinner and a bath for Hayden, I GOT TO VACUUM. Before anyone went to bed, at a decent hour so as not to anger the neighbors (because some of us are considerate) and to get up some of the dog hair and daily dirt that accumulates under our feet. Unbelievable! I actually got to do dishes from the meal THE SAME DAY WE ATE IT. Incredible! It's amazing what you can get done when you're not dog tired and ready for bed while the sun is still up.

Nice try

Me: Ok Hayden, it's bed time. I love you.
Hayden: Love you mommy. *pause* Daddy love me.
Me: That's right Hayden, daddy loves you too.
Hayden: (whispering) I not go ni-night.
Me: No, you still have to go to bed. Even though mommy and daddy love you.

Proof!

This is Baby Rogers 2.0. First photo at 7 weeks, 1 day.