mama confessions: tummy time

No, not baby's tummy time...

I am talking about the "new mama tummy" 

that is left over on my abdomen now that I have birthed my darling baby boy.

CONFESSION: It does not matter how skinny you were, or how many ab muscles were visible before you got pregnant.  You will have a "baby belly" for a while after you give birth.  How long it sticks around might differ for each woman...but we all have it initially.  {Or if you somehow escaped this, just don't tell me!}

I knew about the "new mama tummy" up front, yet it still shocked me post-delivery how pronounced my postpartum gut was.  Literally, I looked like I was still 20 weeks along. Yes, I burst into tears various times looking down at my new tummy during the first week after Baby Cormac was born.  Even though hubby swears he loves me more now than ever, the vain part of me misses the abs I did millions of crunches to achieve.  

This is NOT my tummy...but I liked mine!

Source: 24.media.tumblr.com via Jeanett on Pinterest

Though the belly has slowly been shrinking during the past three weeks, it is still there.  I am somewhat at peace with it now.  It is a gentle reminder of my wonderful pregnancy journey...the making of Mac.  It housed him and kept him safe.  It grew and grew as he did. But being honest...I'm not at peace with it enough to want it to stick around any longer than necessary.

I am SO excited to run again! 

Source: google.com via Michelle on Pinterest

I am counting down the days until I hopefully get the doc's okay to resume running.  It was so much a part of me, and then about 3 months into my pregnancy I knew I had to stop, as just did not feel right.  


I love to run not just for the physical benefits but for the spiritual and mental perks as well!  So, in less than 3 weeks I will run again {and do many crunches!} and hopefully my "tummy's" time will soon be up...so to speak.

Until the next pregnancy.  

Years from now.
 :o)
g

{london broil and apple salad}

Since giving birth I haven't been much of a cook.  

{pizza, again?  yes, please!}

Side note: HUGE thank you to those who brought us meals to eat in the first couple weeks with after Baby arrived.  You are angels, and it was all delicious!

But now that I am used to only getting 5 hours of sporadic sleep each night, I figure it is time to slowly resume my passions.  One passion is preparing dinner for our family.  But since every moment of my day I am ruled by the Cormac Clock, it still has to be simple!   

{I love simple}

Hubby has been begging for a salad, so here is one I kind of made up:  

spring mix of lettuces

apple chunks

candied walnuts

goat cheese {of course!}

white wine vinegarette 

{I whisk together equal parts Italian white wine vinegar, EVOO, and add random favorite spices, such as basil and thyme}

Because I am a total cheapskate deal-finder when it comes to buying groceries {I have a strict budget!} when I want to make steak I usually forego the expensive strips or filets, and go with a London broil.  I highly recommend this, as you can get some nice thick cuts, with minimal fatty parts and no bone, for around 10 bucks. {downside: meat is a lil tougher than the more expensive cuts.}   Broil it, or, grill it, as I did.  I was able to get four good sized, thick servings out of this cut for only $9.50!

Okay, didn't really use the blackberries for anything in the meal.  Just have to eat something while cooking!

Mmmm....carbs!

Heated this baguette in oven after basting with apricot butter:

Finally!  I can drink wine again! 

 This was a Layer Cake Malbec, Argentina 2007.  

'Twas a tad too spicy...so I won't recommend.

Dinner is served...

That was fun...and exhausting!

Had to stop twice while preparing to breastfeed!

Tonight will be 75 cent chicken pot pies.

I'm not even kidding.

What are you making for dinner tonight?

g

{no foot too small}

Source: dididaniphoto.blogspot.com via Kristin on Pinterest

**Happy Friday, friends!**

g

our little cowboy

A few years ago, after I read the book All the Pretty Horses, 
I knew what I wanted to name our son, should we ever have one.

I love Cormac McCarthy's writing style.  Being a literature nerd I had always thought I would name my children after characters in novels I enjoyed, or authors that really spoke to me.


This novel does in so many ways.  It is a story about two men and a young boy escaping across Mexico on horseback.  I am moved by McCarthy's masculine, yet romantic, writing style.  I loved ATPH because of it's male bonding, adventure, heartache, and truth.  I am also a huge fan of westerns, both books and movies.  I love the raw grittiness, as well as the wide opens spaces they are set in.


While I doubt our little Cormac will actually grow up to be a cowboy, I do hope for him an adventurous spirit and honesty.  I hope he enjoys the outdoors.  I hope he falls in love and fights for that love if need be.

Though he might not grow up to be a cowboy...we did get him a horse.  

Well, a rocking horse.
{purchased from Pottery Barn Kids.. thanks Mr. & Mrs. Natarajan!!}

 ...and a cowboy hat.

What he does with them is completely up to him!

For now I get to take bazillions of pictures that I can 

torture him with later...like any good mother would. 

"A goodlookin horse is like a goodlookin woman, he said. They're always more trouble than what they're worth. What a man needs is just one that will get the job done."
{Cormac McCarthy}

"He said that those who have endured some misfortune will always be set apart but that it is just that misfortune which is their gift and which is their strength." 
{Cormac McCarthy}

"You have my whole heart.  You always did."

{Cormac McCarthy}
g

mama confessions: the first week

I have survived week one with a newborn!

{barely!}

So considering that before this I had never babysat an infant or even changed a diaper, I am pretty proud of myself!

Confession:I have to laugh at myself for thinking in any way, shape or form that I was "ready" to have a baby.  At the right point in life? Yes.  With the right partner?  Oh definitely yes.  {Hubby has been amazing!}

But "ready" to "have" a baby?

Not quite.

If you've never had a baby before, you won't really know what hit you when they finally arrive.  You can read all the manuals on pregnancy and delivery and babies.  You can see the words and learn the definitions such terms as "episiotomy" and "meconium" and "colostrum" and "uterine contractions" think naively: "I have educated myself for this experience - bring it on!"


Again, I laugh, because this was me: anxiously and happily waiting for the birthing experience.  But there are things you blissfully ignore when reading about labor and your new baby:  


1. Your carefully drafted birth plan can fly out the window faster than you can say: "I need the epidural!"
2. When your "milk comes in" {not at all like your "ship coming in"} you may randomly leak/projectile squirt everywhere no matter how often you feed your darling babe.  Invest in lots and LOTS of nursing pads.
3. Even if you don't have a C-Section, there is still significant recovery time.  You will hurt places you don't want to hurt, you will not be able to walk far, and the most lovely part is that for several days you will have to change your own "diapers" {which takes longer than changing your baby's.} 
4. Coming home from the hospital with your new baby can be terrifying.  (I hugged my dog as soon as I came in the door and wept at his wet kisses and familiarity.  A new mama has a LOT of hormones going on.)
5. The first few nights...you will not sleep.  Pretty much at all.

But you know what?

Even if I had known/acknowledged all these things...I wouldn't go back and change it for the world.  

Cormac has been a dream baby.  He is quiet and sweet and basically sleeps most of the day.  He rarely cries and is easy to comfort when he does - change him, feed him, or hold him.  It is amazing to look at him and see his ever-changing facial expressions, how strong his arms and legs are already, and enjoy those rare moments in the day when his eyes are open and gazing around.  The nights have been challenging as he is up more then and I'm not good at napping during the day; however, he is slowly sleeping more hours at a time at night.  Mama and Daddy have just had to sleep on his nursery floor the past few nights.  Small price to pay for some sleep, right?  

Did I mention he sleeps a lot during the day?

:o)

Despite all his sleeping...I am still exhausted!

Much love from this tired new mama,

g

{baby is here!}

It's hard to even believe...

Baby Boy is born!

Please welcome...the lively...the sweet...the wrinkly...

Cormac Landon Ford

July 13th, 4:44pm

7 lbs 13 oz. 
21.5 inches long.

There is the name, finally revealed to all of you who have told me how annoying I was for keeping it a secret nearly the entire pregnancy.  Now you can sleep peacefully. :)

Baby's name was inspired by one of my favorite male authors, Cormac McCarthy, who wrote All the Pretty Horses, The Road, and No Country for Old Men. All very masculine, raw, and beautifully written works of fiction.
{more about this in another post}

We chose Landon because it is multi-syllabic, adorable, and just so happens to have lovely vowel symmetry with the "Cormac."  We were this close to choosing "London" instead (after Jack London, another favorite male author) but decided one baby can only be so literary.

:o)

Darling Lil' Mac has been a long time coming, and we are grateful for every moment we have had with him so far.

The labor was, well, "natural..."
for the first 10 hours. 
I avoided medication, which was the original plan.
We used the "birthing ball," 
walked around a lot
I leaned on Paul for support during contractions.
All was going well.
I maintained calm/controlled with no screaming, etc.
even though I was in terribly immense pain.


However, we learned that no matter what your birth plan...
plans change.


At 7am, after 4 hours of strong, close contractions,
only about a minute apart,
 I got stuck at 8 cm. 
The contractions slowed down.
I was completely exhausted, 
having not slept in more than 24 hours.


So I caved and asked begged for the epidural.
{It was like I'd gone to heaven.  Not gonna lie.}

Me after the epidural -- finally relief!

Thank goodness I did because even with the epidural 
I was stuck at 8cm for another 3 hours, 
and didn't have Mac for another 6.


So labor, in general, was long and tough.
Felt like my body was splitting apart.
Felt like I might have been dying
But then...
after the epidural, some much needed rest,
and 2 hours of pushing...
He was born!
Felt like my world was beginning
Felt like life was a million times better
Felt like we were a
real family.
Daddy, Mama and Cormac.

Tomorrow we go home, to a world unknown.
A new life with Baby Mac.
Who is has been so amazingly sweet so far.
Who has many adventures ahead.

The first few days home 
will be adventures in themselves, I am sure.


L O V E, 
g

favorite things: turquoise

My favorite color is, without any doubt, turquoise.  

It always has been.

I would love to have the all the rooms in my house painted various shades of turquoise.

Alas, turquoise is not exactly neutral.  In fact, it is gorgeously girlie!  

So I will stick to subtle accents.

For dear hubby's sake.

Turquoise tends to make anything look more amazing.

The following images were found

on Pinterest

and only make me love the color more...

Source: weheartit.com via Tish on Pinterest

Source: anthropologie.com via Susan on Pinterest

Source: google.co.uk via Becky on Pinterest

Source: iammommy.typepad.com via Barrett on Pinterest

I could get away with lots of lovely turquoise in the nursery:

I simply had to promise Hubby that the next bedroom I designed for Baby Boy 

would be all sports...or trucks...or something extremely boyish!

Check out the entire nursery {HERE}. 

Also, in our outdoor space I have slowly been adding various 

turquoise accents, such as the market umbrella, throw pillows

and several DIY painted terra cotta planters:

Latest additions?

These ceramic citronella pots from Pier1:

Also, I finally found a use for this turquoise glass vase I found at a 

garage sale ages ago.  I just filled it with river rocks and 

added a bamboo stalk for a 

simple, zen centerpiece:

Do you adore turquoise, too?

I would love to know how you

infuse this color into your decor

whether subtly

or boldly!

{And if you have entire walls painted turquoise, then YES, 

I am very jealous.}

g