Getting out!

Summer is still in full swing, we have had such a fabulous summer of weather, and one of my favorite things about it is being able to be outside.  I'm also so happy that my girl has decided that she wants to be outside too!  When we get home from work/babysitters she heads straight for the sand box!  The first few times I showed it to her she just wanted to stand next to it and pick up sand to eat...but now, she climbs right in.

Today we took a drive downtown to check out the Busker festival on the water front.  It was Lyla's first time there, so of course she had to try the Cows ice cream...okay, maybe I liked it too.  But she absolutely loved it.  Being there among all the thousands of people it really made me thankful for our Ergo.  So many people were struggling to get the big crowds with their huge strollers, or trying to push a little umbrella stroller over the steps here and there.  Greg carried her, and she loved every minute.

Week 1 - 2/5

30 Days? I can do this!

For someone who is such a lazy blogger this is going to be a huge accomplishment for me if when I complete this!  Looking for all the rules and whatnot...and to get a link to this super cute button, head over to see Sare...



So there you go...I just completed things for today! lol This is so easy! :)

Week 1 - 1/5

A very special year

There are many reasons why I love being Canadian, but one of the best is that we get a full year of paid maternity leave. I was also extra lucky because I had a special group of people who were also off at the same time. 3 mommas...4 babies...we had so much fun.

This was a pic from our last play date together before I went back to work in May.



The last of our group (mommy of the gorgeous twin girls) is heading back to work on Monday. She's been emailing asking for advice on how to deal with the week ahead. It's hard to believe that it's been over 2 months since I was back, but I hardly feel like an expert on the topic. I'm still just making my way through the week hoping and praying for Friday to get here!

We've all discussed how we would like to be off at the same time again, but really it will never be the same as this year. I don't think we really appreaciated at the time how wonderful the year was, we could really do whatever we wanted (as long as it works around nap time).

So as the last one returns to work, we have to try and get used to our 'new normal'. I already feel like I haven't seen anyone, and don't have time for friends, so we are going to have to make a better effort to get together on the weekends. We already have a date for lunch next Saturday! I'm so excited to see all the little ones. I haven't seen the twins since this pic above...all of them are walking now, it's going to be so fun!

Any tips for keeping up with friendships after everyone returns to 'regular' life?

Friday!

I had almost forgotten how important Friday's were while on my 1 year mat leave.  But I remember now!  I'm sitting here looking at Lyla's picture on my desk and longing to hold her.  I'm even looking forward to hearing her whine all the way home! lol  Because when I get home I know she'll be ready to cuddle while she eats her snack. I swear this girl is a bottomless pit these days! She eats all day long at daycare (when she's not taking her 2 - 2 hour naps!), and when we get home she's ready to go again.  But all this has led to 3 Straight Nights of STTN! Woohoo...this used to happen all the time, but not lately, so I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Speaking of bottomless pits...ehem...Lyla's not the only one these days!  Mama has not really been watching what she eats.  I think that 'thinking' about losing weight has made me gain more. (stay with me here) I'm constantly saying...well, tomorrow I will start, so I need one more 'good' meal.  But then I don't start.  So I've actually put my money where my mouth is...

I've kind of half followed WW before on my own, but I actually paid for the online version and am hoping that this is going to help motivate me to get my butt in gear.  I've been tracking for a little over a week, but have only started managing to stay within my points or OP (on plan...I'm trying to learn the lingo) for the last couple of days.  It's not that hard really, but it's just that since I've been off I've been pretty easy on myself as far as fast food/treats go.  Mind you when I was breastfeeding 85,000 times a day (okay it was 8, but you know what I mean) I could pretty much eat what I wanted and dropped weight like a champ. However, now things aren't going so easily.

One big eye opener was this...

Now I know a big part of it is my still supersized bf boobs...but I'm just not happy with the way I look, or feel.  And to make matters worse, I got my REALLY pink bm dress that I have to wear in August...well, it doesn't fit.  So I have no choice, I have to get things under control.

As for the numbers? Well, I'm up 12 lbs from my pre pregnancy weight. Now that wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the fact that I was actually down past my pre pregnancy weight just 4 months after (I mean way down, like 20lbs).  So that means in the last 8 months I've put back on 30 lbs! yikes!  And that's what I would like to take off.

So, progress so far? I'm down 2.4lbs in two weeks, slow start, but I haven't been really dedicated. Hoping next week will be much better.

Wish me luck!

Party!

My baby girl is one...unbelievable, we had such a fantastic day.  Just watching all the little people toddle and crawl around, stealing toys from one another and laughing, it was amazing.  My sister looked around and said "all you people have been doing for 2 years is having babies!"...so true.  Lyla had a quickie 45 minute nap, but was in fine form, and looking so beautiful, such a big girl.

I did my best to pull together a pink and green theme, and some family helped with salads, so there was so much yummy food.

 Loved these super easy to make wreaths, got the idea from Mrs.Forestes' blog.

Made my own cupcake stand, and flags, super cute!

The best birthday cake ever! My SIL is a chef and I sent her our invitation ....

and she made this! Amazing!

Lyla loved being with all our friends and family.  (notice the 'L' clip? I made that the night before!)

Happy Girl with her Daddy

Loving her new swing from her Grandparents

I thought I would be weepy and sad, but really it was just a fun day.  I loved having so many people around who love our girl.  

Last but not least...I think this just about sums everything up!

Avoiding writing it isn't going to make it go away!

So I'm pretty sure I've been avoiding writing on here because I don't want to admit that time is going by.  I completely skipped the 11 month update.  as a matter of fact, tomorrow is Lyla's first birthday party!! And she will be 1 on Monday.  Absolutely crazy.  A whole year has gone by, and I really can't even imagine what life would be like without her.

The other big change in our world is that I'm back to work and she's now at daycare, it's been pretty hard on both of us, but we are dealing, and loving every minute we have together.

Next week there will be a big update with pics from the party, but for now...just some of my favorites from the last couple months.

So much going on!

'm a little overwhelmed today.  I have a sick husband (who refuses to take a sick day!), a sick baby, stuffy nose, cough and another top took coming through! (That's 5 teeth).  And a sore throat/stuffy nose for me.  But my biggest issue right now is cracked nipples, yep you read that right, I have a 10.5 month old baby who I've been exclusively bf the whole time, yet I feel like I'm starting all over again! Not sure what the issue is.  At first I just thought it was adjusting her latch to the new upper teeth, but we are going on about a month now and it's not getting better! So sore.

I've been using Newman's nipple cream, lanolin, medela hydragel pads, you name it.  I even tried numing today with frozen vegetables (didn't work). So I have an appointment with my Dr. on Wednesday to see if there's anything I'm missing, but I'm totally open to suggestions.

It's not that I'm super far away from weaning, but I don't want to end on a bad note, kwim?  By the way, dd doesn't take a bottle (at all...we've tried EVERYTHING) so pumping isn't an option.  The worst thing right now is that since she's sick, she usually gets to nurse more and finds that soothing, but I can't do that since it hurts so bad, so I feel awful.

But of course as annoyed as I am, she's still super cute...