Fortunate

As I get older, health and fitness are becoming a bigger part of my life than ever, but I was lucky enough to have an early start on the process.

With both my parents being marathoners, I was raised in a household where exercise was just an ordinary step in their daily routine, as well as incorporated into healthy activities with me -such as hiking, biking, and walking the dog. I was also raised on the "protein, carb, and vegetable" meal plan, which I believe built the foundation for my uber-healthy eating habits today. Now, that's not to say my parents left no wiggle room; I still had my fair share of McDonalds fast food and candy bars throughout my childhood, just more moderated. 

I ran my first "race" when I was about 6 years old; it was a lap around Elm Park, and I came in 3rd overall, and first girl. Mind you, at 6, that didn't mean much since half of my competitors ran to their mommy's when they saw them on the side lines, or ran after a leaf in the wind. But, I still like to think of myself as some sort of young champion. I ran here and there for fitness growing up, but it wasn't until high school that I did it competitively - which was short lived once I needed 2 knee surgeries and suffered a fractured hip. 

Once I became pregnant with Lyla, my real health-nut-self kicked in. I went overboard with my servings of fruit, veggies, whole grains, protein, you name it. If it was good for the development of my baby, I ate it; even seaweed salads. I kept up the health food after having her for several reasons; nursing, losing the baby weight, and to keep me feeling energized to keep up with the demands of this new little life (and that extra-shot expresso helped, too). 

I began running again the summer I met Eric; my joints seemed to have rebounded after having Lyla - they seemed relieved to not be carrying that extra 30lbs any longer, and allowed me to run for exercise comfortably. We even raced my brother and father in the Fairhaven Father's Day 5k last summer. Not to brag, but, I won. 

Now pregnant with my 2nd, my eeating habits are more strict than ever. I add tofu to all my smoothies, wheat germ to all my cereal, and eat plenty of fatty, omega-3 rich foods daily. I've also added yoga and some light pilates to my 3-day-a-week gym routine. And, keeping up the moderate splurging I was brought up with, I have a cookie here or piece of chocolate there throughout the day - all natural, of course ;) 

I've never felt better, and am very fortunate to have been brought up with such good eating and exercise habits. It has paved the way for a healthy life style for both me and my family for life. Lyla loves her veggies, and I can't help but smile when I ask her what she wants to eat, and she responds with things like "lentil soup!" or "crackers with hummus!". 

Thanks, mom & dad :) 

Lauren, the brat-child

After just writing a blog about what great memories I have with my family, I'm reminded of how many horrible memories I have with my friends, mainly because of spoiled little ol' me, myself, and I.

I don't even know how my best friend Sarah and I have stayed best friends for nearly 23 years now. I have the guiltiest childhood memories with her of me being a total and utter brat. A few memories in particular:
As kids, we would often play house, and argue over who would play the Mommy role and the Baby role. Time after time if I didn't get to play the one I wanted, I would threaten Sarah with the idea of me going home (oooooooh), and Sarah would normally give in and I would get my way. Until this one day where Sarah and her brother Brendan decided to say "okay, fine, go home then". I think I made it half way down the stairs before I turned around and waved my white flag. "Fine, I'll be the Mom....GOSH".
Another time I remember so crisply was after a trip to McDonalds. Sarah and I each got milkshakes to accompany our super-healthy big Macs. Me, being the brat that I was, happened to notice that one milk shake was filled up more than the other. When Sarah (slow motion, imagine) went to sip from the straw of the filled one, ("Noooooooo") I grabbed it right out of her mouth, took a sip, and ran into the house to eat my Big Mac victoriously. I have actually felt so badly about this shake-snatch that YEARS later when Sarah was sick, I brought her a McDonalds milk shake and asked them to fill it to the very top.

And for some grand reason, she stayed friends with me. She was just my Maid of Honor in my wedding, and is the God Mother of Lyla and soon to be Hannah, too.

All parents say that they don't want their children to end up like they were, and I can say more than ever that I agree with this statement; not even for the high school party phase, but the early childhood total brat phase too. Not that my parents did a bad job necessarily, but I was definitely spoiled. I hope that I can tone down the spoiled brat in Lyla that every child turns into at one point or another. Or, i just hope that she has great friends like me ;)

Making Memories

Growing up, I have the fondest memories of times with my father and grandfather. My dad and I would go bowling or ice skating together, and as I got older we shared common interests like running and hiking, which we loved to do together. My grandfather and I would always take a trip to the candy store, go fishing, ride bikes (well, I would ride up and down this one hill, while he watched). Having such great memories myself, I can only hope to create new ones for Lyla and soon to be Hannah.

Last year, I began to celebrate Lyla's half-birthday (February 5th, 6 months before her actual birthday). The idea I had with this was to always bake a cake, and decorate it into 2 halves - why not have an excuse to eat cake one more time a year, eh? And as she grows older, I can be "corny mom" who cuts everything in her lunch box that day in half, and just acknowledge the day.

I really hope that both Lyla and Hannah continue to develop a strong, special relationship, with not only me, but with Eric. With the baby due less than 4 months from now, we've talked about what our schedules will be like. Since Hannah will be born at the tail end of Spring, there have been lots of talk about taking the girls to the park once Eric gets home from work; he and Lyla can toss a ball around the field while I sit on the swing and look on at our little growing family (aww, how cliche). But I truly hope this happens; these can be the great things Lyla remembers about having a newborn sister, and also her one-on-one time with Eric, since it may be a bit neglected after learning to share Mommy.

I also hope Lyla continues to stay close with her grandparents. She has such a special bond with not only my parents, but Eric's parents too. Eric's mom, especially, took to her quickly since her 3 children had none of their own, and she has always wanted to be a grandmother. Lyla would never know that her "Gramma-Dre" isn't her biological grandmother. I am so grateful for the relationship they have established. She will go from having no grandchildren to having 3 in a matter of a year, with both myself and Eric's sister now expecting. I know that even with the addition of these two little ones, and the needs of Amy's baby who will be born at least 6 weeks premature, that Lyla will always have the best memories and special bond with Eric's family.

Lyla and my mother have an especially close bond; they talk on the phone daily, they spend time together every few weeks, and she is without a doubt one of Lyla's favorite people. Eric and I are always joking that it's because she is the cliche grandmother; doesn't let her cry, gives in to anything she wants, and is always stocked with goodies. Lyla loves to visit her home in Maine and spend time on the beach finding seashells and sea glass. I know that these are traditions my mother is sure to keep up and it will always be something Lyla looks forward to and looks back on with fondness.

Grampy's house is always one of Lyla's favorite places to visit. She loves to play with Petey (the dog) and Jami (the cat), and have her spoiled-time of Barney videos on repeat. Her and my dad also often watch little programs on the computer;  spending time YouTube-ing sesame street and other clips. I get a kick out of listening to them both crack up laughing together. And in the warm weather, Grampy's pool is always one of Ly's favorite places to be, especially with her cousins.

I couldn't be more grateful for all these great & growing relationships Lyla has with our family. I only hope that she has the best memories in life, and cannot wait to be a part of creating them with her and her baby sister.

Pregnancy is Scary

It's absolutely amazing what the body can do. I am in constant "aw" of how despite from eating well and exercising, I have to do nothing at all but sit back and watch my belly grow; my body takes care of the rest, naturally. However, the lack of control is also very scary to think about.

At the beginning of my pregnancy, I experienced bleeding on several occasions, one time where they were unable to find the baby's heart beat. I was put on bed rest twice, but only for one day each time. At these moments, all I wanted was to be able to peak inside my belly and see if everything was okay. Somehow, going to the doctor once a month doesn't seem like nearly enough. Something happens nearly everyday to leave me worried: was that box I just lifted too heavy? Am I really not supposed to reach for things on the top shelf? Is Lyla sitting on my belly hurting little Hannah? It's been a day since I've felt her move...is everything alright in there?! It's terrifying. Day by day, truckin' along, just assuming everything is peachy until the next doctor visit, then you start all over again until next month's visit. And you're never really in the clear until that baby is out, breathing, and declared healthy.

And then there's the totally unexpected. My sister in law Amy is 28 weeks pregnant, and her water began to break today. Now, she will be hospitalized for the next 6 weeks, but could go into labor anytime between now and then. I can't imagine how she's feeling.

As for me, all I can do is continue to do all the right things; eat pregnancy appropriate foods, keep up with my exercise routine, and pray for the best. Sometimes I feel like I'm pushing my luck having a second child, where my pregnancy with Lyla was perfection and she was born full term, totally healthy, and has been the best little kid. But I can't fear what I can't control, and can only hope that things will go smoothly from here on out. Grow little Hannah, grow!

(10lbs down, 20 to go!)

Never Enough

As I'm sure most parents feel, I want nothing but the best for my little girl (soon to be girls). I have our day down to a science, making sure that I limit TV as much as possible to leave the day open for arts and crafts, puzzles, reading, etc...but somehow I'm constantly left feeling like it's never enough - like I could always be doing more. 

At one point in everyday I start to feel like a lazy parent; each morning she watches a couple shows on disney/nick junior, and just before dinner we always let her pick out a movie to watch. Her choices vary from Sesame Street, Baby Einstein, and Winnie the Pooh for the most part; all fairly educational, but I'm always second guessing myself at this "movie time". Is it bad that I've made a daily movie a habit instead of a treat? We totally could have colored a few more pictures during that time, or have read a few more books...but then I also know that every child needs their own down time too. The same goes for babysitters. Her only babysitters her whole life have been family, and knowing that Lyla has a love for movies has become a habit here, too. Now, given, I'd rather her be happy watching a movie or 2 while Eric and I go on a date or run some errands, but I can't help but feel like she's missing out on quality "bonding" or playtime. So, once again, knowing that when these occasions come up she'll be in front of the TV for the duration of the time, I spend extra time burning energy and playing throughout the day. 

Realistically, I know I'm doing enough as a parent. I include her in nearly all my daily activities - including cooking, she is always learning new things - from shapes and numbers to how things work, and she is the happiest little girl, always laughing and smiling. She's also rarely bored; she can sit there and play with one toy or paint a picture for 45 minutes at a time, and simply move to the next thing without a fuss. I think a lot of her need to be entertained comes from ME having that need more than her. I guess as a mother, you never want to look back and regret anything. So, I bust my ass everyday to be the best mother I can be, but there's always going to be a feeling that I can be doing more. 

Back to Work

Today, for the first time since our honeymoon, Eric has gone back to work. I'm so excited for him, because he was going stir crazy at home after going from working 40 hour weeks to attending story time and playing dress up with me and Lyla. He's installing solar panels, which is the new "fad", and its a local job so he won't be spending 3 hours commuting like he was with his previous job. I thought I'd burst into tears once he returned to work, since I had been feeling so homesick, but actually, it couldn't have come at a better time.

Our new apartment is ready to go; fresh coats of paint on everything, floors are refinished, and everything is clean enough to eat off of. So luckily, while Eric is busy at work, I can keep myself busy at home; packing, organizing, and taking trips back and forth from our current place to our new one. Not to mention, the forecast for the week is in the upper 40s, so I'll be able to eat up the day with trips to the playground and time spent outdoors. I'm also keeping myself busy by constantly being on the job hunt; I'm lucky to have taken such a turn for the better and feel well enough to massage through my pregnancy. Now if I can only find somewhere accommodating to work!

La la la...

Old Friends

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My friend Joanna came to visit for lunch this afternoon, and being able to catch up with her was amazing. However, I found myself throwing the same pity-party I've been having about feeling homesick once she went home.

Joanna and I became close when I was about 7 months pregnant with Lyla. She is my close friend Michaela's older sister, and when I moved into my first apartment, she lived upstairs. We quickly developed a friendship by chatting during these long walks we'd go on, and she was a great help once little Lyla was born - she was the reason I was able to shower. Couldn't have made it through those first several months without her!

When she walked through the door this afternoon, we immediately picked up where we had left off; catching up on work, relationships, future plans, etc. It was nice to just be myself for a change and talk to someone as me, Lauren: the friend, mother, and story teller I always have been, instead of the new girl. This all made me realize that as much as I am looking forward to creating a life for myself here in Fairhaven, that I really just miss those old friends who already know your stories, and who can share anything with you. And of course I also realize that as I make new friends, these qualities will all be found in them in time, too. Just getting there is so difficult.

I still have all my "old friends", of course. But it's the fact that they can't swing by for a quick visit, or grab a cup of coffee that has me feeling so far away. Now visits have to be planned way in advance, and are usually a day long event - which, is fine, but it's not the same as knowing they're down the street, either.

Eric, being the supportive husband that he is, has talked to me several times about moving to Worcester together, but it's me who really wants to give Fairhaven a chance. I fear that if I were to run back home, I'd never leave. Not that it would be the end of the world to buy a house and raise my children in or near Worcester, but I would feel like I failed at moving away. Not to mention, Worcester isn't what is used to be anymore; all my close friends have moved away to Boston or other surrounding areas for school or work, my dad is back to working part time, and my mother moved to Maine. So, even though I would have the comfort of being familiar with the city, that's pretty much it. Although, it IS where all my friends would come home for holidays and family visits...(my head loves to play this vollyball game...)

So, we have decided that I will give Fairhaven a fair chance; I'll give it a couple years. Lyla will be in school, allowing me to interact with more parents, I will hopefully be working, allowing me to socialize with coworkers, and it will give me more time to get established. And if after all that, it's still a struggle, when it comes time to buying a home, we may look back towards Worcester. I could have more job opportunities there since I know more people, and I would have more free-day-care options, too. So, we'll see. Only time will tell.

But for now, it was fabulous to catch up with an old friend, even if it did leave me missing home a bit more.