Five on Friday

It has been A WHILE since I've participated in 5 on Friday with A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, Hello! Happiness and The Good Life Blog. It's been a whirlwind few weeks around here with the birth of Farrah Madison and then our very unfortunate {or fortunate, depending on how you look at it} car accident last week. I know I haven't been posting as much, but I will be back in the swing of it soon...we are beginning to get on a schedule of sorts finally...so it may become easier to work in blog time.

Anyway, with all of that said, I did have a pretty great week this week and I think I'll get on with my Five on Friday!

{one}

I took two bridge strolls this week with three other recently postpartum mommies. We found each other in a mommy group on Facebook and decided to meet up! I haven't walked the Cooper River Bridge since earlier on in my pregnancy, so it was nice to be back. It is also quite the workout pushing Breckin and Farrah in my Sit n' Stand stroller up the incline! {I have a large double jogger, but felt it would be a little too wide for the bridge with everyone having to go around me.} Good news is, I'm pretty certain my butt and thighs will get back in shape in no time if I keep up this routine! We are going Tuesday and Thursday mornings and I love having other moms to stroll with. All in all, we do about 3.5 miles each time we go.

{two}

Last night my friend, Suz, and I went to see Florida Georgia Line and Nelly in concert. It. Was. Awesome. We were pretty close to the stage...I love FGL soooooo much. It was my first big night out postpartum and it was a good one. Tyler Hubbard is definitely on my hall pass list.

{three}

I'm five weeks postpartum today and I definitely feel a lot better. Can't quite get the old jeans on yet, but I know with some hard work and determination, I'll get there soon enough. I am starting T25 on Monday. So with that in addition to the bridge strolls and neighborhood walks, I should start seeing some results soon! Ready to feel like myself again!

After T25, I will begin Insanity again. It worked after Breckin! Here is a little timeline of my progress. I didn't take pictures week 3 and 4...so here are 1, 2 and 5 {today}.

{four}

We're finally going to brave a family beach day this Sunday {Father's Day}. I've taken them out to the Windjammer on Isle of Palms already just for a couple of hours while Jake plays beach volleyball, but we haven't had an official tote-everything-we-own-and-set-up-camp-in-the-sand full on beach day. I told Jake I wouldn't be able to do it alone with the boys and the baby...so I need him to not be playing volleyball and just hang with us. Can't wait because I really miss having fun in the sand and waves with the kids. Here is a throwback to one of our first family beach outings when Breckin was a baby:

{five}

And of course, I can't get away without posting an update on little miss Farrah Madison. She is eating well and sleeping better...we are going anywhere from 3-5 hrs between feedings at night. She is such a mellow baby {unless she's hungry!} I can't wait for her to start smiling and cooing on her own...I swear sometimes when she looks at me and gives a little smile that it's a real one and not the gas-induced kind...I can just see it in her eyes. I love the way your babies look at you...like you are their whole world. It's heart-melting.

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Five on Friday

Hey y'all - happy Friday! I definitely need a weekend...but somehow I don't think I'll get much rest...two rambunctious boys makes that a wee bit difficult. This week has been the hardest thus far in this pregnancy....ultra-exhausted, starting to get nauseous on an empty or too full stomach and I really felt "hormonally-charged" when it came to my mood. Plus, getting a flat tire on the way to dropping the boys off to school on Wednesday really sucked...I was also due for rear brakes. It all got taken care of, but you know those things are never fun. 7 weeks down, 33 to go...

BUT, enough about that, going to try and turn it around.

In other news, here are five things I am happy about this Friday...

{one}

Yesterday, baseball practice got cancelled, but I found out a little late - on the way to practice. I was actually sort of glad because it's such a rush getting the boys a quick dinner and then racing to practice to get there on time. I love walking the bridge during practice, but my body definitely needed to not feel rushed yesterday...it had taken enough. So, we took a detour and headed here instead:

{via my Instagram}

{two}

I love having a Kohl's charge card. They send their monthly mailings where you either get a 15%, 20% or 30% off coupon and I hit the jackpot this time with a 30% off coupon. Plus, they sent me a $10 coupon in my email just for switching to paperless statements. I knew I was going to score big. I left with a couple books for the kids {a buy one get one half off deal} and this Simply Vera Wang bag to take with me on my NYC trip in December {I had been looking for a good big bag to be able to carry my DSLR in while I walk the streets of NYC}:

I was so lucky because it was originally $99.00 and they had it displayed on their 60% off rack for SVW handbags {it wasn't alone, there were a few of the same bag}, but when I went to the register, it rang for $64.99. I told the lady it was with plenty of the same bag, not looking misplaced, the employees definitely messed up when they set it there, and she ended up giving me the entire 60% off. Score. I left with those two books and that bag for under $40.00 total after my coupon discounts. Gotta love Kohl's. I felt kinda bad that she had to give me the extra off, but it was definitely a misleading advertisement, and technically they are supposed to offer the advertised price, even if it's their mistake. I learned this tactic from my mom.

{three}

Experienced yet again a nice bridge walk with Breckin on Tuesday during Tanner's baseball practice...it was a gorgeous sunset. I even had some extra time to take him the the play park under the bridge afterward.

{via my Instagram}

{four}

As a writer for Skinny Mom, they are having me do a product review on Hilaria Baldwin's new prenatal yoga DVD that comes out on Oct. 1st. It's actually really nice, I think it will help me maintain my flexibility throughout, and it definitely relieves back pain. If you're preggers, be sure to check it out!

{five}
We've had some great fall temps here in Charleston lately...I'm hoping I can pull out the scarves and boots really soon...this 3rd baby is showing a lot faster than my 1st and 2nd, so I'd like to be able to be comfy in some leggings and sweater dresses really soon!

{via}

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Five on Friday

Ahhhh...this week has been super busy. As you can tell, other than today, I've only posted here once! I hope to get back in the swing of it next week. But you know what, today is FRIDAY and I'm going to just revel in that fact. It's time for...

 

{one}
Tanner started baseball this week! If you don't already know, my sons are polar opposites, and Tanner is my more introverted, less into sports one. It started off great, the first night, one of his classmates came up to him and was so excited that Tanner was playing baseball with him this year. I was so glad he immediately found someone he knew. We are hoping to get him to branch out and like more "active" activities rather than just Legos, drawing and video games. He is who he is, but I feel it's my duty as a mom to expose him to as many healthy activities as I can and provide opportunities for him to be social. Here's a picture of my little man looking handsome in his uniform:

The socks are blue because they didn't provide uniform socks, so we are using baseball socks from another year! LOL. We will be doing baseball every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6:15 to 8:00 for the next five weeks. It's a big rush to get them picked up from daycare all the way at the other end of town and make it back in time for practice, plus they need to be fed, so we've found that grabbing fast food and heading to the baseball field to have a pre-practice picnic is the way to go.

{two}
Thanks to baseball, and I know I've mentioned this before, I now get a good excuse to walk the Cooper River Bridge two nights a week. With the practice field being right next to it, and trying to entertain his three year old brother for almost two hours being nearly impossible, it's nice to be able to pop Breckin in the stroller and take a long stroll on the bridge. It's great exercise too of course! Hubby came with us the first night, but couldn't make it last night. Hopefully he will be there for the rest of the baseball practices though.

Gorgeous view, isn't it? And we get to enjoy the sunset each time too. Breckin loves watching for boats in the water.

{three}
I hit my six-weeks-along pregnancy mark yesterday. I still haven't had morning {all day} sickness...I'm surprised with the very few symptoms I'm having this time around. I wasn't ever very sick with my boys, but I definitely had nausea...I think it hit about week 6 or 7 with them...so maybe it's coming. I'm doing well with my weight...with Breckin I think I gained like 7 or 8 lbs in the first trimester, which is considered a lot! I was eating to avoid feeling sick. This one, I'm making sure to keep up the exercise with morning cardio, and now the bridge walks are definitely a plus. I've heard exercise helps fight sickness during pregnancy. Right now, I'm about 1 lb gained...and good Lord, it's probably in "my girls". Not wearing maternity clothes yet, but my pants do get a little tight by the evening time and I jump into PJs right when I get home. Sorry if you're squeamish, but these pictures always amaze me about the woman's body and what we are made to do:

{Week 6 Pregnancy}

{four}
Speaking of exercise during pregnancy, I just came across this article about a woman who does CrossFit during her pregnancies and the backlash she received even though her doctor assured her since she was already that active prior, that it was OK. She even gained a healthy pregnancy weight. I don't lift like this right now, but I've not done CrossFit, so of course pregnancy isn't the time for me to start...but I do keep up my regular strength training and cardio, and like her, believe it's a much better alternative than being sedentary and not getting that blood flowing for baby. What are your thoughts?

{five}
Flared jeans...do you think they'll be the new craze and edge out skinny jeans for popularity? A few of my friends have been pinning images like this lately:

{via}

{via}

I've always been a fan of the flares or bootcuts....they flatter my shape better. I don't have the ultra-thin legs that look bomb in skinnies, though I do love to wear them. But flares make my thighs appear thinner...and that's a magic trick I can't resist.

Have a great weekend!

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Cooper River Bridge Strolls

The past few days, Breckin and I have been taking strolls across the Cooper River Bridge and back. I've been walking with him every day since I got home from the hospital with him, but I felt I was definitely ready for more of a challenge...and the uphill arch of the Cooper River Bridge definitely takes care of that! It had been so long since I had felt a really good burn in my butt and legs - it just makes me feel like I'm truly making progress. I also love that I get to enjoy these walks with my son...what better way to combine mommyhood and fitness than to include your little one? I remember when Tanner was younger how we would take walks almost every day - beach, bridges, leisure trails, neighborhoods...I'm definitely getting my money's worth out of the jogging stroller I purchased 4 years ago since I now get to use it with son #2! Speaking of jogging, I plan on upgrading these walks to jogs very soon. And one day, to runs.

So for now the plan is to get out to the bridge as often as possible...I'd love to do it every morning or evening...now that Fall is about to arrive, the weather will be so perfect.

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Not Getting Along with the Mirror...

OK, OK...so I know I'm only 3 weeks and 4 days postpartum...but let's face it, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a little bit of a nut when it comes to being in shape. A little obsessive and probably much too hard on myself (obviously...I mean, I'm already giving myself crap for not being back in my skinny jeans less than a month after having a baby)...but that's just who I am and I've accepted it.

I definitely didn't wait at all to start getting back out there...the day we got home from the hospital I took Breckin on a 30-45 minute stroll around the neighborhood...and I've done so every single day since - sometimes even doing two walks, one with Breckin and then one with Dakotah. I was even extra ambitious one night and popped in a Jillian Michael's workout DVD. Yesterday I took Breckin for his first stroll across the Cooper River Bridge and back...and I LOVED the burn I felt while pushing his stroller uphill. But still I get up in the morning and try to find any shirt I can squeeze into (which there are not many right now and mind you the breastfeeding twins are NOT helping) and then put on my "fat" jeans - a $16.99 pair of American Eagle's I bought at Marshall's to get me through this awkward phase until I can get my pre-prego jeans to button! And all I see in the mirror is my flabby midsection and newly-acquired love handles...despite all the work I've been trying to do this past 3 1/2 weeks. Like I said, I am hard on myself. But I'm sure there are many mommies out there that understand what I'm going through and have been there themselves.

Anyway, I'm determined to come to a truce with the mirror - and SOON. This Sunday I will be 4 weeks postpartum...the plan this month is to take Breckin on the Cooper River Bridge every morning (weather permitting) working up to where I can end up running most of it and do an hour's worth of workout DVD's at least 5 days a week. This month it's Turbo Jam...haha. Next month, Insanity...the title is pretty fitting, don't you think?

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.