1 Month After The Pump

It's been a month since I switched to formula exclusively.  I am 110% satisfied with my decision and I am equally as sure it is what's best for Zachary and I.  It is so nice to leave the house without pumping and cleaning the parts, its even nicer to go out and run a few errands at a time.  I sometimes feel a sense of freedom when I go out with my friends and without going home to pump I stop at the grocery store...it's the little things. 
I know Adam supported me while I was Eping, and supported my decision to stop, but at the same time I know he is relieved that we don't have to plan our day around the pump.  Zachary is extremely happy that I can spend the time I used to pump, playing with him. 
There have been times that I second guessed my decision...and the fact that Zack got sick the week after I stopped giving him breast milk. 
I know that I could have kept going...maybe for the whole first year...but I think for our family formula is best!

My Goal

I lost my pregnancy weight 3 months ago...usually it's 9 months on and 9 months off, but I was sick and lost 10 lb's my first 5 months of pregnancy then I put on 30 lb's super fast (there was one 2 week period where I gained 18 lb's) so I ended up positive 20 lb's.  I wish I could say I was disciplined and worked hard to lose the weight but I didn't do anything besides give birth and breast feed (well sort of). 
My problem is; although I am OK with what I see on the scale I am not so happy with what I see in the mirror.  None of my clothes fit right and I don't want to buy new until my body stops changing.  Parts of me are bigger and other parts are smaller.  I have been working (semi regularly) on turning my belly back into abs.  I was pretty happy with my progress before I left China but living in a hotel and eating out every meal made me look 5 months preggo again. 
I have been using Jillian's (from the biggest loser) work out videos plus some of my favorite cardio workouts.  Jillian really kicks my butt!
My goal is to be less lumpy by November...so that I can look and feel great for a couple weeks before Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas cookies undo it all again.  I am not a dieter, I enjoy food and now that I have my Hellmans real Mayonnaise back I am not willing to give it up.

And because I love taking pictures of my little guy...here are some pictures of what Zachary does while I work out...

He finds it fustrating that he can't pick up my hand weights.

hmmm...how does this open!

Zack LOVES His Banana Paci...and carrots and pears!

Zack hasn't really been a huge fan of banana when I mash it myself so I decided to try it a different way.  We got these food pacifiers that said it's great for banana.  I broke off some banana stuck it in the mesh holder and squeezed it a bit to get it started.  I handed over the paci and watched...

I love that you can see the leftovers from his carrot/green bean dinner...he ate 5 cubes of veggies and still showed signs of hunger so I decided to try the banana.

He really enjoyed his snack

This is what happened when I took the pacifier away...I intended to refill it but that wasn't good enough for Zack.  Good thing I have two.

I alternated between the yellow and blue one until the banana was gone...

yes...he has both in his mouth

I am really enjoying making Zack's food, and with the amount he eats I am really seeing how much money I am saving.  Each jar costs between $.75 and $1.00 and Z eats approximately three jars a day.  I spent under $30 buying fruit and veggies (both in bulk from BJ's and in smaller amounts from the grocery store) that will last us 2 months.  I sometimes taste the puree because I am really curious about how it tastes and I am always supervised that it tastes the same as if I took a bite out of it whole.  I know I shouldn't be surprised but I am...

This week we tried pears and carrots.  I bought these organic from BJ's and they cost me less than $10.  I made 3 ice cube trays full of each (which will come to about 19 meals if Zack keeps eating 5 cubes a meal twice a day).  Another great plus to making Zack fresh baby food is that I set aside several carrots and a couple pears for Adam and I!  Would I buy carrots for Adam and I normally, sure...would they be fresh whole carrots?...probably not because we wouldn't eat them before they went bad.  Would I buy pears...no.  I tend not to buy fruit on a whim because we don't always eat it.  Yes, Adam and I will be eating carrots with every meal until they are gone or I start Zack's next veggie, but I don't think it's a bad thing!  Next is peas and yellow Squash!



Bouncing till the end...

Do you remember this fun video I posted a while ago?  

Thanks to my Tante Lorie, Uncle Steve and Whiting cousins we have a Jumparoo here in America to entertain Zack and give me a chance to fold laundry. 

Well tonight Zack was bouncing before bed and he slowly began to fade... 

I pulled him out of there right after recording this and he fell asleep right away.  I wonder how long he would have held on if we would have left him.

Green Beans and Apples

I figured if there was one thing that Zack wouldn't like it would be green beans, but he loved them...I had the camera all ready to take a picture of his cute disgusted face...

not so disgusted

in fact...he finished every drop!

it's a good thing he loved it because I went a little crazy with my new toy...this 11 cup food processor (happy birthday to me)!  Doesn't this green glump look really tasty?  I love the fresh colors in my homemade baby food!
And of coarse he loved apples...what kid wouldn't?

I didn't just go puree crazy with green beans...I am at the beginning of stocking our freezer.  Thank goodness for BJ's and fruit and veggies in bulk!

Thank You Aunt Bethany and Uncle Scott

The other day Zachary received his very first package (well piece of mail) EVER!

We got this on the day where I received a laundry basket full of mail so it was defiantly a welcome surprise (well sort of a surprise since Bethany told me to expect it).  I am not all that great at saving special things in a safe place to someday put in a scrapbook so this is what I do...

I take pictures and I put them in this blog and someday I can print them out and show Zack how much his Aunt and Uncle love him.  I read the card to Zack (or Zach as his Uncle calls him) while he tried to eat it.  Then we opened the package...

I tried to hold the outfit up on him for a picture but he was excitedly waving his arms and well...I ended up with 15 pictures of waving arms and not much of the outfit.  This is Zack's thank you face!

Thank you Uncle Scott and Aunt Bethany for this super cool Halloween outfit!  We love you!
PS: I did get him a super cute costume, I know he won't be going trick or treating but I got it for the pictures.

Cousin Andrea Gets Married

Andrea was the only one who could bring all the cousins on my mom's side together...It seems like either one of us was sick, working, in China, in Singapore or doing something for the last few weddings and Christmases.  This was also an opportunity for my tantes, uncles and cousins on my mom's side to meet little Z.  I swore I would take lots of pictures but I was too busy catching up with everyone.  I have to get pictures from other people and I will update later.  Zack also had his first babysitter giving Adam and I time together without him (we missed him, but I am not gonna lie...it was nice!).

Now Andrea and Mark are going to travel the world...people think I have gone a lot of places in the past year and a half...Andrea's passport puts mine to shame!  I can't even imagine there is a place worth going that Andrea hasn't visited but I am sure it's going to make it extra special traveling with her new hubby.  Did I mention he is British?  Yes...complete with the accent and says things like "dodgy poo".