Raspberry Vanilla Birthday Cupcakes

On June 8, Monica turned one! She started walking the day before she turned 11 months old, so turning one sealed the deal of her becoming a toddler (sniff).

 

While I had a secret Pinterest board filled with birthday party ideas, I didn't go over the top crafting elaborate decorations. I ran a half marathon the day before her birthday, so we decided to keep things simple. We catered Buona Beef, served food on pink plates with pink silverware, bought a canopy for the backyard which we decorated with pink paper lanterns, and had several coolers of chilled beverages. 

 

One thing I didn't want to skimp on was the dessert. I had pinned several mini layer cakes as inspiration, but ultimately decided to bake cupcakes. Since the loose party theme was pink, the cupcakes had to be pink. In addition to baking exactly what I Monica wanted, I could avoid hard to pronounce food additives and artificial food colors.

 

Monica has been enjoying berries lately, so I decided to bake vanilla cupcakes with raspberry buttercream (strawberry being a close runner up). These weren't organic by any stretch, but I felt a little better knowing exactly what was in the cupcakes.

 

In addition to Monica's current love of raspberries, these cupcakes were inspired by The Cup's Raspberry Beret cupcakes. I don't think I ever had this flavor, but The Cup can do no wrong, in my opinion. Monica's birthday cupcakes are also reminiscent of the first recipe I shared on this blog, raspberry champagne cupcakes. Obviously there wasn't champagne in these cupcakes.

 

This may be one of my favorite pictures of Monica eating her birthday cupcake. Yes, there are other pictures of us singing to her and her enjoying her cupcake, but I love the expression on her face in this photo. It's like she's thinking, "Oh no! Cupcake down!"

 

One last minute (and extremely playful) detail I loved from the party was using one of Monica's bath toys as a paperweight. I just grabbed the purple walrus and it just went perfectly with the pink napkins. The napkins and walrus might still be sitting on the buffet.

 

 

Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes
Vanilla cupcakes adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction
Raspberry buttercream adapted from Eat Live Run (where she shared strawberry buttercream)

Vanilla Cupcakes
Yield: 12 cupcakes (I tripled the recipe, which made 45)

Ingredients
1 and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1 egg

1/4 cup yogurt (The original recipe called for vanilla greek yogurt. I used strawberry greek yogurt since that's what we had.)

3/4 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350*. Line muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.

 

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Melt butter in a small saucepan on the stovetop or in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Transfer this to the bowl of your mixer. Using the paddle attachment, stir in sugar (the mixture will be gritty). Add in the egg, yogurt, milk, and vanilla extract until combined.

 

Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until no lumps remain. Batter will be thick.

 

Divide batter among 12 cupcake liners and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting.

Raspberry Buttercream
Note: I was able to frost all 45 cupcakes using one batch of this recipe

Ingredients
4 sticks unsalted butter, softened (1 pound)
1/2 cup pureed raspberries (about 1 cup whole raspberries, optional: strain out the seeds for a smoother frosting)
2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
8 cups powdered sugar (from two 1-lb boxes or one 2-lb bag)

Directions
Beat the butter using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer until creamy.

Add in the pureed raspberries.

Slowly add the powdered sugar, about one cup at a time.

Finally, add the lemon juice and sea salt. Continue beating until very light and fluffy.

Pipe* or spread frosting on each cupcake. Enjoy!

*I bought the Bake it Pretty Best-Ever Cupcake Icing Kit (5 jumbo pastry tips and 1 pastry bag) just for these cupcakes and it was fantastic! You can currently save 10% off your order using coupon code "BALLOONS".
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To Friends of Young Kids

Monica's first birthday is this Sunday. Where has the time gone??? I didn't become a mom one year ago. Or even one year and nine months ago. The process of becoming a parent started over two years ago. Two years ago yesterday, I lost my first pregnancy. I was 6 weeks pregnant. While we're extremely blessed and grateful that we have Monica; other couples are struggling with infertility and/or waiting to become parents through adoption for much longer than two years.

 

My friend Marie doesn't have a blog, but wrote a letter that she wanted to share with parents of young kids. Some of you might relate to Marie, so I've given her this blog post as a way to share a little of her story.

Dear Friends of Young Kids,

Happy Mother's Day! Mothers are a precious gift from God and you show such grace being mothers. Here is my thank you note to you.

Thank you for taking me Easter outfit shopping at the newest children’s resale boutique. I enjoyed being out with you, shopping, and looking at cute kids clothes. I may not have my own kids to buy clothes for, but I enjoy looking at frilly pink dresses and enjoyed helping your almost-screaming almost-two year old try on clothes.

Thank you for inviting us out for beignets and coffee. Though it may not be the easiest to take a 5 month old to a coffee shop, we had a nice time sitting outside with you and laughed when your husband changed your daughter on the bench in the coffee shop. I dream of one day taking my daughters out for coffee with friends.

Thank you for calling me to tell me you are pregnant. I love to hear your voice and celebrate with you. Though we have yet to have the opportunity to make such joyful phone calls to friends, thank you for telling me in person, so I don’t cry seeing someone else announce it on Facebook.

Thank you for posting your good news on Facebook. I planned five years ago what we would post and how fun it would be. Most days it is so joyful when you post online your good news. Forgive me if I cry when I see you good news; it is not that we are not soo happy for you, it is that we want that same blessing in our lives as you have in yours.

Thank you for inviting me to your baby showers. I love shopping and planning showers gifts and celebrating God’s gift of new life. I hope you understand how sometimes, I just can’t come. It's not that I don’t want to, but my heart is too heavy and too hurt at times to celebrate.

Thanks for giving me time to grieve my own loss and celebrate with you. Thank you for sharing your losses and struggles with me. I understand where you are coming from and I will pray with you, cry with you, and celebrate with you when you have good news to share.

Thank you for helping me to know your children, telling me what they enjoy and what clothes they wear and how fun they are. I really love your children and love that they know me.

Thank you for asking how we are doing. Thank you for caring sensitive and understanding. Really, I am no different than you are. Some days, I am calm, collected, hopeful. Some days I am a wild mess, with dirty laundry and a messy house. We both love kids, we both have busy lives and thank you for being my friend.

Marie

Thank you, Marie. My friend Stephanie is going through a similar chapter right now and blogs at Blessed to Be. She shares about their journey to parenthood. If you are struggling with infertility and/or in the process of adopting, you can find comfort in reading her blog. She also has a lovely blog link-up called "Little Happies" where she shares little moments of happiness while waiting for the next big thing to happen.
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Traveling by Car with a Baby

Shirt, Leggings, Sweatshirt, Hair Ties, Gray Slippers, PJ's, Baby Boots

Christmas is next week!!! I don't know about you, but I'm not ready. Before cozying up with family, I still need to purchase a few more gifts, wrap presents, and bake Christmas cookies. And some years include a drive to Ohio to be with my family. Since we've already taken a few road trips with Monica, including going to her first wedding, I thought I would share a few tips for those taking their first long drive with a baby.

Allow extra time to make extra stops
Traffic and wintery weather already contribute to longer than usual travel times. Add a baby to the mix and drive times can increase by a few hours. You never know when an atomic diaper will strike, how long naps will be, or if someone will want to eat again. In conjunction with the inevitable diaper changes, we've learned to make time for extra "wiggle" stops. Babies are just like adults in that they want to stretch out and move around after being seated in the car for a while.

Have one person sit in the backseat
One of us I have been sitting in the backseat with Monica almost exclusively since bringing her home from the hospital. 95% of the time, she's a chill baby and fine sitting by herself. But that 5% when she is fussy can be excruciating. To help prevent and combat the fussies, we bring an assortment of toys, books, and a pacifier. Some of the toys are her favorites and others are new things she hasn't played with yet. 

Though sometimes you just have to stop the car. While driving home from a recent trip to St. Louis, Monica took a 1.5 hour nap, which is pretty amazing for her. Not so amazing was when she woke up hangry and wailing. I was driving and we were stuck in traffic on the highway. John was sitting with her in the backseat, trying to soothe and distract her until we could exit the highway. Her bottles were in a cooler and the milk was way too cold to drink. Needless to say, we had to pull over to the side of the road where I could nurse Monica back to happy.

Carry a well stocked diaper bag
In addition to the usual suspects, it's helpful to have extra extra diapers, wipes, diaper cream, outfits, swaddle blankets, and trash bags in your diaper bag. This includes extra outfits for mom and dad because super spit up and explosive diapers seem to happen on the go. And since rest stop bathrooms can be questionable, be sure to bring a travel-friendly changing pad.

Pump on the go
While Monica tends to prefer her milk straight from the source, sometimes it's easier for us to give her a bottle on the road, especially when she gets hungry in between rest stops. Plus, I still feel a little self-conscious about nursing in public. Enter the manual pump or electric pump with a battery pack or car lighter adapter. Then I use the pump and accessory wipes for quick clean up. Freshly pumped milk will then keep about 5 hours at room temperature or 24 hours in an insulated cooler with ice packs.

Try not to pack the kitchen sink
This one is easier said than done, but babies really only need clothes, diapers, and food. If you forget something critical, you can probably buy it on the road or at your destination.

Any other tips you want to share for traveling with a baby?

see more cozy inspiration at {long distance loving}

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DIY Baby Dinosaur Costume

Halloween is only a few days away! Are you ready? I finally pulled together Monica's costume over the weekend. We went to Target a few weeks ago and were less than impressed at the costume selection for babies. So we picked up the pumpkin onesie she wore to the pumpkin patch and called it a day. The onesie also came with a pumpkin hat, so we figured she would be a pumpkin for Halloween.

Turns out, the pumpkin hat was a tad small (girlfriend has lots of hair!), so it wasn't looking like she was going to be a pumpkin. After brainstorming and creating a quick costume for my work party (thanks to this tutorial), I knew it would be easy enough to whip up Monica's costume.

I present to you, our little Cute-a-saurus!

See also: a DIY baby dinosaur costume that can be made in less than an hour for only a few bucks. If you're still searching for a costume for your little one, grab your sewing machine and get crafting!

Materials

• Hooded sweatshirt (one with a zipper is easier to sew)
• Two sheets of felt (mine were 9"x12")
• Thread
• Fabric glue
• Note: Not all fabric glues are created equal. Test yours out on a piece of scraft felt first. I tried two kinds of fabric glue (Liquid Stitch and Sew No More) and both drenched the felt. I finally had success with Martha Stewart's glittering glue. The original tutorial said that Aleene's no-sew fabric glue worked well for her.

 

Tools

• Rotary cutter and cutting mat (or scissors)
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Pins

 

 

Cut the felt rectangles in half, widthwise.

 

You'll now have four 6"x9" felt rectangles.

 

Fold the felt rectangles in half lengthwise and iron the crease.

 

It's now time to mark where the spikes will be cut from the felt. I was able to get three spikes from each of the felt rectangles. Along the creased side of the felt, put a mark at 3" and 6". Along the open side of the felt, put a mark at 1.5", 4.5", and 7.5". You can trace a line to connect the marks if you like. Repeat for the other felt rectangles.

 

Cut out your spikes.

 

For a newborn-sized sweatshirt, I only needed 7 spikes. Two 9"x12" sheets of felt yielded 12 spikes, so use as many as you need for larger sweatshirts.  

 

Unfold the spikes and pin them down the center of the hoodie, making sure the crease is in the center. Start with the hood (there's usually a seam going down the center) and work your way down.

 

Sew the spikes onto the hoodie, following the creases as your guide.

 

Looking cute!

 

Apply fabric glue to the spikes, fold together, and let dry overnight. This gives the spikes a little more substance. Or if you don't have time to glue the spikes, you can just tape and fold them together.

 

Rarrrr!

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Cinnamon Sugar Buttermilk Donuts

I don't know how it is for the other new mamas out there, but I've had more cravings after Monica was born than while pregnant with her. My cravings of choice include ice cream, milkshakes, donuts, cookies, and a myriad of other sweets. I chalk it up to breastfeeding and running.

A few weeks back, I decided to indulge in my donut craving. The weather was starting to turn fall-ish and I associate fall with cinnamon and baking. OK, I fried the donuts, but you get my point.

The great thing about these donuts is that I already had everything I needed on hand. The original recipe called for sour cream and buttermilk, but there are easy substitutions for those. We usually have yogurt in the fridge, so I swapped out the sour cream for Chobani honey ginger Greek yogurt. And you can "make" buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting sit until it curdles, about 10 minutes.

As for special tools, you really only need a candy thermometer since it's important to keep the oil between 165 - 170*. Nobody wants a burnt donut! I used a plastic cup and old spice jar to cut out the donuts and donut holes.

A bench scraper is helpful, but you can also use a spatula to lift the donuts off your counter. And a slotted spoon, as opposed to a spider strainer/skimmer, can be used to take the donuts out of the hot oil. 

Since I didn't want to indulge too much, I only made half of the original recipe, which was plenty for John and I. The ingredients and measurements below are for the half batch and yielded about 6 big donuts and at least a dozen donut holes.

 

 

While these donuts are delicious dipped in cinnamon sugar, they're also pretty fantastic on their own because cinnamon and nutmeg is in the donut itself.

Cinnamon Sugar Buttermilk Donuts
Adapted from Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented

Note: This recipe is for a half batch, which makes about 6 large donuts and a dozen-ish donut holes

Ingredients

For the Donuts:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/8 cup (or 6 tablespoons) granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I made this a heaping 1/2 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I made this a heaping 1/2 teaspoon)
1 large egg
3/8 cup buttermilk (or 1 1/8 teaspoon lemon juice and 3/8 cup milk, mixed together and let sit until curdled)
2 tablespoons reduced fat sour cream or yogurt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Vegetable oil for frying

For the Cinnamon Sugar:
5/8 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon

Preparation
Line one baking sheet with parchment paper and another with paper towels.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

In another bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk, and sour cream/yogurt until combined. Add the melted butter and whisk again. The butter might harden once it hits the cold buttermilk mixture, so be sure to whisk the mixture well.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the egg mixture into the center. Gently fold the flour into the liquid until the mixture forms a sticky dough.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and sprinkle the top of the dough with flour. Pat the dough out until it is about 1/2 inch thick.

Use two round cutters (2 1/2 inch and 1 inch). Dip the larger cutter in flour and cut out the donuts. Dip the smaller cutter in flour and cut the donut holes. Arrange the donuts and donut holes onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet. Continue to pat together the remaining scraps and repeat cutting as many donuts as possible ( I got about 6 big donuts and a dozen donut holes). Chill the dough while you heat the oil.

Pour oil into a deep skillet or dutch oven until it is about 1 – 1 1/2 inch deep. Slowly heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 165-170 degrees.

Mix the cinnamon sugar while the oil heats.

To Fry the Doughnuts
Once the oil reaches the appropriate temperature, gently place the doughnuts into the hot oil. Be sure to only fry about three at time so you don’t over crowd the pot.

Be careful to keep the oil temperature even. Adjust the burner to keep temperature between 165-170 degrees!

Once they have browned on one side, carefully flip them over in the oil. These should take about 2-3 minutes per side. Using a slotted spoon or spider strainer, transfer the donuts to the paper towel lined baking sheet.

Continue with the rest of the donuts and the donut holes. The donut holes will take less time, about 1 minute per side.

Assemble Doughnuts
Once you have finished frying the doughnuts, quickly dip them in the cinnamon sugar. Or just enjoy them au naturel!
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The Best $5 We've Spent on Our Baby

Some people are quick to point out that babies cost a lot of money. Sure, daycare and schooling adds up, but so far, one of my favorite baby-related purchases was only $5. This purchase is also a time- and sanity-saver: the Baby Connect app!

While in the hospital with Monica, I was given a paper log to track her diapers, nursing, and pumping. It worked, but was a little inconvenient. During one of my last nights there, I asked one of the nurses for a baby tracking app recommendation. She told me about Baby Connect. Instead of researching more apps and winding up with analysis paralysis, I went with her recommendation and downloaded the app when we got home.

OMG, I loved it! With a few taps on my iPhone, I could easily log in diapers, nursing, pumping, and her growth. This has been extremely helpful when answering questions at the pediatrician: how many diaper changes per day, how often she was eating, and such. And let's be honest, sleep deprivation makes it hard enough to remember to shower, let alone remember which side to nurse on next.

The app also helps us figure out what Monica might need. When the afternoon fussies hit, it can be a bit of baby mind reading. Monica might be hungry, tired, need a diaper change, want some snuggles, or who knows what. Seeing when she fed or slept last can help us come to the solution much faster.

As we were getting ready for daycare, I began tracking her sleep as well. We follow Monica's cues on when she's hungry or tired, so the app has been helpful in telling daycare her patterns. At three (almost four) months, Monica's day looks a little something like this: wake up, diaper change, nurse, play, and once she's been awake for 1.5-2 hours, she's ready for another nap. Naps are usually an hour, but can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

Now that I'm back to work, the app is extremely helpful in reminding me when I pumped last and when it's time to go again.

And let's be honest, as helpful as the app is, my nerdy self really enjoys watching the trends and analyzing the numbers and charts. Yes, it's a little depressing seeing the number if diapers we've changed, but I'm happy to see that the amount per day has decreased. I also really enjoy the pumping data. John likes to joke as I freeze milk and get bottles ready that it combines my two loves: being a mommy and inventory. This is from the kid that performed an inventory count of her Halloween candy ;)
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The Perfect Post-Baby Skirt

Earrings, Belt, Suede Flats, Linen Tee, Skirt

Friends! I just found the perfect post-baby skirt! Last weekend, we went shopping at the new outlet mall in Chicago. And of course I wanted to check out J. Crew Factory. I saw this skirt when crafting last week's post and tucked it away for future use and/or purchase. It looked so cute on the model that I had to try it on in person.

And I loved it.

John was waiting outside the dressing room with Monica while I was trying on clothes. When I emerged from the dressing room and asked for his opinion, one of the first things out of his mouth was, "Is that an elastic waistband?" And I proudly answered, "Yes!" 

The stretchy waistband is beyond comfortable and perfect for the post-baby body when things are still a little soft and figuring themselves out. It's also a great piece for those early in their pregnancy. And who am I kidding, wear this skirt and don't feel guilty for having a second scoop of ice cream this weekend :)

Some might argue that a maxi skirt is more forgiving and serves the same purpose. But I'm loving the slightly structured shape of this skirt because it automatically makes me feel more put together. And the cobalt is so fun! You can dress this girl up or down. I plan on wearing it on my first day back to work.

This weekend, my new favorite skirt it only $40.50 (45% off!). So go get one!

Have a fantastic, long holiday weekend!

see more Friday's Fancies at {long distance loving}

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Back to Work

Watch, Leather Satchel, Leopard Flats, Chambray Shirt, Floral Skirt

The local schools are back in session, and I'm having my own back to school moment of sorts. My maternity leave is winding down, which means it's back-to-work-time for me. To say I have mixed feelings is an understatement. While I'm excited for a little more adult interaction and to stretch my brain muscles, I'm not looking forward to sacrificing the snuggles with my little lady.

This is my first time going back to work, so I don't know how it'll go emotionally. Yes, I know I won't stop thinking about her during the day and will count down the minutes until I can scoop her up and give her a big hug and kiss again. But how hard will these emotions hit? I felt a shift is priorities when we got engaged and then married, so I can only imagine the scope of my emotions now that I'm a MOM. Monica has rolled from her front to back and is currently working on kicking herself over from her back to front. Will I miss a milestone while she's at daycare? Mommy guilt is a beast.

And then there's the (hopefully not too much) stress of pumping at work. I've been nursing exclusively, with only a bottle on occasion, so I'm not sure how much she'll be drinking during the day. And whether I'll be able to pump enough for her. We have to provide daycare a can of formula just in case, but I'd really like to avoid that. Personal preference and no judgment on the mamas who need to supplement with formula or use formula exclusively. Every mama needs to do what's best for themselves and their little one.

On a lighter note, I'm looking forward to wearing "real" clothes again! Though I might have to take an inventory of said "real" clothes before going back to work to be sure I have things to wear! Sure, I still occasionally wear maternity clothes, but I don't want my coworkers to think I'm pregnant again. Perhaps a little "back to work" shopping is in order this weekend ;)



see more Friday's Fancies at {long distance loving}

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Running Errands with a Two-Month-Old Baby

Diaper Bag, Belt, TOMS, Shirt, Jeans

Earlier this week, Monica and I did a little "back to school" shopping because when I go back to work, she'll be making all sorts of new baby friends at daycare. Even though we just went to Target, I wanted to "dress up." I've been getting tired of my shorts and T-shirt routine and decided to mix it up with my skinny jeans and a white button down shirt in a half tuck. I know...let's not go too crazy!

While this outfit is similar to what I'd wear pre-baby, it's also pretty strategic as a mom. The button down allows for easy access to breastfeed, the thick belt hides the fact that my jeans are zipped but unbuttoned, and the Gap jeggings suck everything in. Don't believe me? MODG did a two-part post on skinny jeans for moms. And my trusty Gap jeggings were the reigning champ.

Of course, we can't forget the diaper bag. During the last few weeks of pregnancy, I stressed (and possibly cried) about the diaper bag. Thank you, pregnancy hormones. I asked friends for recommendations and did some extensive mom blog research. I wanted a diaper bag that didn't scream "diaper bag." Plus, it would be nice if John could carry the bag without feeling emasculated. And I didn't want to spend beaucoup bucks on it.

I thought the Skip*Hop Duo in French stripe was a good option, but I never pulled the trigger. John suggested (and I vetoed) using one of the several duffle bags in our basement. Turns out, we had another contender hiding in our closets. I present to your our diaper bag:

A black Gap messenger bag circa 2001. I figured it was worth a try before spending any money on a new bag. And two months later it's still working for us. The cross-body strap is critical for easy toting and it has several pockets/compartments to hold baby and mommy essentials:

For Monica:

• Diapers (duh)
• Wipes
• Changing pad (these are working for now)
• Diaper cream, though we use this sparingly
• Hand sanitizer
• Plastic bags for dirty diapers (These hold in the smell really well! I accidentally carried around a dirty diaper in one of these bags for over a day and didn't smell it at all.)
• Extra Soothie pacifier
• Extra outfit and socks
• Aden + Anais swaddle blanket (Helpful when the air conditioning is blasting. I also use this as a nursing cover.)
• Aden + Anais burpy bib (So big and soft! Can be used as a burp cloth or a bib.)
• Bottle if I know we'll be out longer and/or I don't want to nurse in public

Obviously there will be additions and subtractions based on the weather. And as Monica gets older, we'll have to add toys (like Sophie!) and snacks to the mix.

For me (in addition to the usual suspects: wallet, phone, car keys, lip gloss, sunglasses, pen/pad of paper):

• Water bottle (breastfeeding makes you thirsty!)
• Granola bar/small snack (it also makes you hungry!)
• Lansinoh nursing pads for any boob leakage
• Tide to Go pen

Have a fabulous weekend!

see more Friday's Fancies at {long distance loving}

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Postpartum Running

Running Shoes, Tank, Shorts

Wow! Another week has flown by and we're back to another Friday. I didn't really mean to take the week off from blogging, but when this little face is smiling at me, it's a no-brainer to spend my time playing and snuggling with her. Yes, I could do a little writing during nap time, but that's when I try to take care of myself with a quick shower or nap. Another way I've been taking care of myself is by starting to run again.

Monica will be 8 weeks old this weekend and I began running (with walking) about 2 weeks ago. I've been getting out for (sometimes very slow) walks since she was 5 days old and felt like I was ready to pick up the pace a little more. Plus, my doctor said everything was healing well after the C section and I was cleared to exercise.

In true Cathy fashion, I found a 10K race and started to follow Hal Higdon's training program. A 5K seemed too easy and a half marathon is out of the question since I took a year off from running. Sure, I tried to exercise while pregnant, but running was out of the picture.

One of the obvious reasons I'm running again is to try to get back into shape. I put on somewhere between 35 and 40 pounds during this pregnancy. While that's a healthy amount to gain, it was a mentally scary number on the scale. And I was already carrying a few extra pounds when I got pregnant. I'm already down 30 pounds, but those were the easy ones. Monica accounted for about a third of that and I was retaining a bit of water near the end of my pregnancy. Breastfeeding has probably knocked off a few more. 

Mentally, I need to get out and run because it helps me clear my mind. Plus, when I go out for a solo run, John gets some daddy-daughter time with Monica.

 

On the positive side, having a baby has made me less self-conscious about my body. It just grew another human being for 41 weeks and worrying about my belly is low on my priority list. Sure, I'm still rocking some maternity wear and am wearing clothes that hide my imperfections, but I'm starting to fit into more of my non-maternity clothes. Like my skinny jeans (!), even though they were unbuttoned at the top. And I wouldn't mind fitting into a few more articles of clothing. I miss you, pink gingham button down!

As for the running itself, it's slow going and my legs are definitely rusty. Sometimes my running is more akin to a slow shuffle than jogging. And let's just say I need to invest in a few new sports bras! My Dolly Parton-like boobies are uncomfortable and flying all over the place!

So for the well-endowed runners out there, any sports bra recommendations to share?

see more Friday's Fancies at {long distance loving}

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Welcome, Monica Rose!

 

Our sweet baby girl is here! Meet Monica Rose.

 

Born Saturday June 8, 2013 at 1:48 am.

 

9 pounds, 1 ounce

 

21 inches

We're head over heels in love with her!

 

Photography by Bella Baby Photography.

Headband from Little Hip Squeaks.

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