Thoughts on Motherhood

Before having Cole I had been an avid gym go-er. I loved my time there to unwind from a long day at work, get a good sweat on and listen to my favorite tunes. I continued this routine all the way up until the very end of my pregnancy. Getting to the gym made me feel so much better throughout the week. Since having Cole I haven't been once, until today.  I didn't realize how much I missed that time.  I have thought about going many times but then cancelled the idea thinking it would be better to get an extra nap in during the day.  While sleep is the most important thing to me I realized after today that getting to the gym is a close second. 

Being a new mom has had its challenges. I have heard that phrase so many times, and wondered "what are those challenges really" So far the challenges I have expereienced are (in no particular order)

Lack of Sleep 

No "me" time to relax, paint my nails, watch a movie, do my hair/makeup

Dairy Foods (ahh cheese and milk)- Cole has a sensitive stomach

Having one on one time with my husband-feeling like his wife and not a mom 

Being Spontaneous (doesn't happen when we are on a 3 hour feeding schedule)

Working

Working Out

My friends and girls nights

Being able to make dinner when I want it

Eating

Showering ( I still shower but not those Loooong hot showers)

Having a clean home

Attending Church

While this is not meant to be a negative post I wanted to be real and open about my feelings having a new baby so that I can look back and see how things have improved and for other new or soon to be moms to relate (hopefully I'm not the only one). 

The past 7, almost 8 weeks, have been a complete life changer because of the adjustments I mentioned above. We no longer go out for a date, come home decide to stay up late and watch a movie because tomorrow is Saturday and we can sleep in. Our whole lives are centered around our new baby and the adjustment is hard. Luckily it has gotten easier, I now feel great getting 6 hours instead of 9 hours of sleep, I've learned how to shower and get ready before 2 o'clock, I'm learning when I can run my errands and to plan much better than before.  The most important thing I have learned is that life is not all about me, and what I want.  My life is about my son, my husband and myself, and learning to take care of all of our needs. My needs are still important and vital to staying happy and taking care of Chad and Cole, but they no longer come first.  

This realization has made me appreciate my own parents and my Heavenly Father more than I ever knew.  I look back on my years as a child and remember all that my mother did for me. I remember people saying I can't believe you have 6 children to her and in my head thinking it wasn't a big deal. She is a mother and that is her job. I now realize if only a small portion of how difficult and selfless that was. I also think of my father who would work long hours, serve in his church calling and also be our father, attending almost all of my volleyball games and being there when I needed him.  The job of a parent is so difficult because it requires the giving up of ourselves for someone else. 

That brings me to appreciating my Heavenly Father. He gave up his son for others, others who would disobey him, persecute and ultimately kill his son Jesus Christ.  Our Heavenly Father was willing to sacrifice his son for me.  The least I can do to show him of my appreciation is to do the same for Cole. He has trusted me to take care of this little baby and I am so grateful to do so. While I may get frustrated or cry during the day I am still grateful. 

As I sat down to write this post it was just going to be about getting back into shape as a new mom, I had no idea that these thoughts would become typed on the computer screen. More importantly than getting back into physical shape and going to the gym is getting myself back into shape spiritually so that I may raise this little baby into a man who has a testimony, treats others with kindness, loves even those that are difficult to love, and one day becomes a parent himself.

Road Trip with a New Baby

We have a lot of family and friends that still live up in Utah so we decided to head up north to visit them and introduce them all to Cole. We had mixed reviews from people about taking a road trip with a new baby, but we decided we wanted to do it and Cole would have to be a good sport. It turned out to be super easy. We drove to Vegas the first day and then made the rest of the drive the second day. Cole slept for all but maybe a half hour of the trip. It was easier than taking care of him at home for a day.  Our friends Jake and Kristi let us stay in their home while we were there. Thanks so much to them for putting up with a crying baby in the middle of the night.

I haven't been back to the Provo/Orem area in 3 years!! Being down there brought back many great memories, I drove past our fist apartment, went to my (yes my) old Target, bough Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears @ BYU (reminds me of cramming for a test), met up with friends, family, ate at Texas Roadhouse, Kneaders, Hire's Big H, got a waffle from The Waffle Truck (thanks Kristi), went shopping at City Creek, ate the best tacos at a Taco Truck, and went up to Sundance. Whew, that was a long sentence and still the trip wasn't long enough, there were many people we weren't able to see but overall we had a great time.

Siblings and spouses

David made Cole smile every time he made this face

Smizing with Aunt Hayley

A trip to Utah isn't complete without visiting Temple Square

Best friends for almost 16 years! Doesn't she look great for being pregnant with baby #2!

Sundance

When I was pregnant Alyssa loved to sit by me and feel my stomach kick, I think Cole remembered his Aunt Alyssa's touch!

Busy Weekend

Two weeks ago were the busiest we have been since Cole has been born. My sister Hayley came into town to meet Cole, and she also brought her boyfriend for us to meet. We had to show them that you can still have a good time with a baby.

On Friday we went up to 3rd St in Santa Monica for dinner, shopping and people watching. I even nursed for my first tme at a restaurant, luckily we sat outside so it was dark and I dont think most people knew what weas going on. Saturday turned out to be a nice day so we went to the beach for a few hours. Tyson and Hayle went out on Chads psaddle board and I hung out with Cole on the sand.  That afternoon we went to Hollywood and Highlanfd where the stars are and had fun watchinfg all the impersonators on the street. Cole loves to be in the mix, just like his daddy.  They both like to be out and about.  As long as we stop to feed him he is good for another 3 hours.

Sunday we went to my parents and were able to hang out wit the family and go to church. I dressed Cole up for the first time and he stolwe my heart again.  He wasnt too sure about the tie wrapped around his neck but I couldn't resist.

 

One Month Old

Can't believe this little man is already 1 month old. This picture makes me laugh, the faces that he makes cracks me up. At 1 month he doesn't do a ton but so far here is his laundry list of accomplishments:

LOVES to nurse, and gets very aggressive or lets out a grunt to tell me its taking too long to get to the goods

Sleeps for 2-3 hours at night, sometimes with a 4 hour stretch

Loves his pacifier

Likes to sit in his swing and go for car rides

Sleeps through every outing that we go on

Focuses on people more and is very alert

Pretty good at holding his head up

Seems happier since I stopped eating dairy
I'm not sure how much he weighs but I would guess around 8-8.5 lbs
 



Disneyland with a Stroller

We are officially part of the "stroller crowd" at Disneyland. We took Cole for his first time yesterday. He slept most of the time, waking up only to eat and check out Cars Land, definitely a boy already. He didn't care about the Princesses, but Cars Land he sure liked. Chad's parents were able to go with us and they watched Cole while Chad took me on my 1st roller coaster in 9 months. It was my first "I'm not pregnant anymore" moment and felt great!

Just hanging out

Today we have been just hanging out at home. Cole has been a little angel, keeping himself on schedule and making me so happy. I finally brought out my real camera and snapped a few pictures of him and all his cuteness. (After these pictures he peed through his diaper onto me. It came out the back of the diaper, no idea how that works logistically.)

Love this little face so much! 3.5 weeks old

I'm not sure who loves skin to skin time more, Cole or his dad.

Family Outings and Retail Therapy

Getting out of the house is difficult to say the least, but we are getting a litle better at it. I feel so much better if we make it out, sometimes I forget that there is a world outside of my living room, Netflix, and taking care of Cole. We have gone out to Cafe Rio, walked down by the beach, went to the Orange County Marketplace, church, and even did a little retail therapy. Chad treated me to a new watch! This new life is still an adjustment but starting to feel a little more normal. I am so grateful to have family close by to let us come stay THREE nights at their home and take care of Cole so both Chad and I could catch up on some much needed sleep. It's amazing how much more I love my little guy when I am getting a good nights rest!

Cafe Rio

OC Fair, post nursing and diaper change in the heat!

Gotta be able to keep track of Cole's feedings and naps :)