7.5 weeks of Emmett

Emmett is a pretty cool kid. I can't believe how much he has grown up already. In the last 2 weeks, he has suddenly transformed from an inert blob that eats, sleeps and poops to an interactive baby who eats, sleeps and poops. Emmett is "talking" a lot and smiling and laughing. He loves the song "Baby Beluga"...it always wins smiles and laughs. Emmett also loves to stand up...the kid has some strong legs! He is growing bigger by the day. He is a fairly long kid...he wears 3 month clothes because of the length but they are still a little loose on him. However, he has a really skinny butt and legs so he can only fit newborn pants. Of course the newborn pants look like ridiculous high-waters on him....so mostly he just hangs out in his onesie.

Emmett's new best friends are ceiling fans. He loves them and stares at them and talks to them.

I'm sad to see my baby's beautiful dark hair slowly recede and fall out! I wonder what color his "next" hair will be.

We just got back from a vacation to North Carolina. Emmett did great on the planes. On the way there, I tried to time it and nurse him during take offs and landings but discovered it didn't really matter...he didn't seem bothered by the pressure changes. He pretty much slept the whole flight.

This is my last week of maternity leave! So sad. I have to become a pumping machine this week so I can get ahead of the power curve and store up enough milk for him while I'm away. My supply has been good so I think I can do this! (Make enough milk so Emmett can eat without supplementing with formula.) Luckily, I'm only working for 3 1/2 months before I quit my job. But, if you know me, you know I can't sit still....so I'm already planning my next career move. I'm thinking of taking my G.I. Bill and trying for nursing school. There are a few accelerated programs in our area that I could complete in 1 year (BSN).

My first day of Weight Watchers is tomorrow! Eric went out to get what he is calling my "Last Supper" of pizza. I also plan to tackle P90x tomorrow...at least the parts I can do of it.

So it's officially a blog about NOT running

At least it's not all in my head. It's confirmed. This will be a blog about NOT running for a long time. To put it bluntly, my 93rd percentile-headed child did some major damage on his mom. The tailbone (and yes, the tailbone is busted) is the least of my worries. The kid has left his mark on my lady bits in ways I didn't even know possible. (Word to the wise....don't push for 4 hours during labor. That's more than a marathon worth of pushing and I believe that was about 3 hours too many for me.)

Even though I'm really proud that Emmett is happy and healthy, I'm not really happy that his delivery has taken away 2 loves of my life: running and jumping on a trampoline (at least for a while.)

The assessment is this....I can stand up, but not for very long before I start to hurt. I'm allowed to walk/power walk but walking starts to ache after a few miles. I'm allowed to lift weights, but not power lifting stuff. I can't do anything with a jarring motion. Even riding in the car on a bumpy road is a little much right now.

I have to get a new plan in life. For the first time in my life, I have to seriously consider other sports and ways to workout. And I'm so lost! I think I can swim....maybe bike. I can't do the elliptical but maybe I can handle yoga??? I have to create a new "non-running" identity.

I'm still 16 lbs up from pre-baby weight. Because I'm so limited on physical activity, I'm going to have to watch what I eat (which I have never done.) I'm joining Weight Watchers in a few weeks. I also finally broke down and bought new clothes in a size 8 (3 sizes up). I was living in running shorts and tank tops. I figured if it was going to take me a while to find my pre-pregnancy body, I might as well look put-together while I was doing it.

no running news

Thursday = 4 miles
Friday = 4.75 miles, squats, pushups
Today = 4.3 miles

All walking. I tried to run 1 step to see how it felt....yeah, feels like my insides are falling out. Joy. I'll be lucky to run by next year.

Baring it all....the 3 1/2 week post partum belly

I decided I had to be honest with myself. The baby weight is not going to come off by eating double stuff oreos and Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Oops. So I have renewed my commitment to trimming the baby weight.

Here's the belly! (3 1/2 weeks post-partum....still 16 lbs over pre-pregnancy weight. I say "still" because I was this weight when I left the hospital.)

I walked 4.75 miles this morning with Emmett, Charley and the BOB (got a pic of that one too!). We left at 9 am but it was ridiculously hot. Clearly, I'm a bad mom...but I think it was a little too hot for baby as well (yes, he is shaded the whole time.) It pains me to say that we will have to get up earlier to beat this heat.

Walk went well. My tailbone pain is minimal. But, I can tell I'm still a LONG way from running. Hopefully I will be able to do some ab work and arm exercises later today.

All about Emmett

Today: walked 4.5 miles!

We interrupt this reguarly scheduled broadcast on whining about not running to update you on Emmett.

Emmett is 3 weeks old! Even though it's only be 3 weeks, I feel like he has lived with us forever. Emmett continues to be a very easy going baby. He is definitely hitting his 3 week growth spurt and has been cluster feeding like a champ, but I think that's harder on me than on him. Yesterday, I felt like I had a leech on my body. But, I can't complain...even though he's hungry all the time right now, my body is keeping up with his demand and he latches well. We have mastered the breastfeeding in public too which is usually a big hurdle. (I think it helps when you are not a modest person. Heck, I used to run 10K races in underwear. Well, OK, I may have done a few naked runs in college as well.) So, I don't really care about feeding my kid wherever....I use the nursing cover more for other people's comfort.

The little tyke has been sleeping well (except for these last 2 nights). Normally, we just swaddle him and toss him in bed and he's good to go. He's been a little fussy for the past 2 nights, but again, nothing too killer. We can usually get him settled down within the hour. The kid is definitely used to lots of motion (courtesy of all my pregnant running.) He settles down right away if you walk with him or he rides in the stroller/car.

Emmett is porking up like a champ. I am a little concerned about his double chin......(kidding!)

Emmett was quite the little soccer player when he was in my tummy...and he continues to thrash his legs now. Most newborns stay curled up when they are sleeping or hanging out...but Emmett always stretches his legs all the way out. And he likes to be upright, even though he has zero head control.

Emmett is still rocking out newborn size diapers and newborn clothes. He really is too tall for his newborn outfits, but not quite fat enough for 0-3 months clothes. I think he will be able to wear them in a few more weeks.

Huge milestone!!!

I have been walking almost every day, probably averaging a mile to 2 miles. Well, today, I went 3 miles!!! This is a huge victory for me. I feel almost like a normal person walking around. Almost.

I took Emmett in his BOB and Charley on her leash. Emmett loves the stroller and falls asleep right away in it...at least I am gifted that small pleasure for all the running I did when he was in my tummy. It will still be a long, long time before I can run...but for now, I am thankful I can walk some amount of mileage. My tailbone still feels sore, but it is much better than last week. I am concluding that I did NOT break it (which is reassuring).

I did all the post-partum ab exercises from Dr. Oz's "You Having a Baby" book. Despite the fact that I'm not losing weight, my stomach is getting flatter. Still holding strong at 13lbs over pre-pregnancy weight.

Don't let it get to your head

I feel vindicated in my complaining about my long, painful recovery. Today, at Emmett's 2 week checkup, the doctor confirmed that his head is in the 93 percentile!! (Height and weight are very average). So, yes, the kid has a HUGE head....15.5 inches to be exact. That explains so much...