Where I've been (since I've not been blogging!)

In looking through photos on my phone this morning, I realized that instead of just telling, I could show what I've been up to (and why I've been a blogging slacker).

Family

This summer we visited NY and PA!
First, I got to see my beautiful nieces and their dance recitals.

They did a great job! So proud of my little girls.

We were able to spend a super fun 4th of July weekend in New York. On the trip up to NY, we visited 2 firework stands. So glad no one lost a limb! Look at these cuties!

Hi Immy!

My nephew can read?! When did this happen?! Love them.

Running 

At the beginning of the summer we ran a color run. It was fun, but I was coughing up color for days. 

Lots and lots of running. Did my second half in September. It was not fun, but it was good running with my ladies. Jason and his bike saved us. He had advil, treats, and was a great source of encouragement to us.

Best medal EVER! I love it. 

My girls! We stuck together on a really tough course and finished STRONG!

DIVAS!

The week after the half,  I did a really hard trail run with my awesome friend Tiffany. We were crawling over big rocks and there were fallen trees. She was super patient while I was slow and lame.

I also did a "run around the lake" race for Wounded Warriors. Another trail run, and I only fell once!

Today we did a 10K! I was worried since I've been battling a cold all week and my lungs where hurting. But we all did really well. Love these people!

New Job! 

I started a new job in August. I love it, but its keeping me really busy. But I have a great view! (thats Reagan Airport through the buildings!)

Food!

Lots and lots of delish food! This summer I did a Georgetown cupcake tour with my friend Michelle. We started at Georgetown Cupcakes, then moved to Sprinkles and ended at Baked & Wired. Georgetown Cupcakes is still my favorite, and Michelle liked Sprinkles German Chocolate Cake cupcakes the best.

Georgetown Cupcake - Red Velvet and Salted Caramel

Sprinkles!

Sprinkles Double Chocolate 

Baked and Wired Lemon Blueberry

 Had a great girls night out with some good friends - and the chocolate flourless waffle was amazing.

 First pumpkin maple donut of the season! This year, they stopped making them way too soon :(

I discovered sourdough avocado grilled cheese sandwiches.  I've died and gone to heaven.

 A friend gave me the recipe for brownie cookie dough bars. They were pretty delish.

Another trip to Georgetown Cupcakes, this time a boding trip with a new co-worker and we split the cupcakes in the picture below. I ate an apple carmel, a maple pumpkin, and a chocolate lava cupcake. Phrase of the day (after eating 3 cupcakes) "and I don't feel sick at all!"

Other random fun...

Josh brought some legos back from one of his visits to NY. I'm convinced that legos are fun at any age.

 Josh and I did a date night to the river front. Someday we will have a boat like this...

 Went with my good friend Sarah to see Austenland! Sarah and I were roommates, and when I had mono, she read the book to me. Best roommate/friend ever.

 Voted! Things were getting a little tense in the governors race, so while I try to vote anyway, I booked it home from work and VOTED!

 And finally, the most recent addition to our family, a giant stuffed panda. Its huge. Name will be decided later :)

bad. bad bad

Jes and I are still alive.  We both have had life changes since I posted here on the blog the day AFTER her birthday.  ( i know, worst friend ever right here)  I've decided to participate in a local blogger's Friday fashion posts.  I may suck at more than I would like to admit, but I think it will be a good way for me to be motivated to get back my creative juices and actually start getting dressed and showered again.  Check out Allison's page at twothirtyfivedesigns.blogspot.com .  She's fabulous and super fun.

I hope you all are well.  I have several posts I'd like to get started one.  Anyone want to help me by being a nanny/wetnurse/housekeeper/personalassistant/etc?  thankyouverymuch.  send your resumes to the address in the "Contact Us" section.

~june

Happy (belated) Birthday, Jes!

I may be the worst friend.  Ever.  I tried posting earlier today from my phone, while my kids were at swim lessons but 4G on AT&T and really a joke.  

What can I say about the fabulous, incredible, darling, beautiful Jes?  She truly is one of THE most caring and loving people I know.  She loves my kids like they're her own blood.  Jes isn't afraid to share her opinions on the "hard" topics yet she isn't too involved with herself to hear other people's opinions and thoughts too.  She is brave.  I could go on forever but honestly, words cannot express all that I feel for her.

Happy birthday my lovely. Glad we're framily (friends+family).

xo,
June

And they say, "There's no such thing as a miracle.."

I like to think there is something close to a miracle when finding a way to get back into pre-pregnancy clothing.  And well gosh darn it, I think I found that "something close".

Have you eve heard of stomach binding?  Well, most cultures (with the exception of ours) bind women's stomachs postpartum.  Look it up.  Google it.  Wiki.  Whatever.  It's true. I hadn't heard about it until I started researching "how to get your body back after baby".  Yes, I know diet and exercise work.  But you're not supposed to diet while breastfeeding and you can't technically exercise until you get the 6 week "OK" from your OB.  So the baby weight kind of sticks around for most women for a while.  Especially if you gained more than the recommended amount of 25-35 lbs for average weight women, 28-40 lbs for underweight women and 15-25 lbs for women who are overweight.  (source: webmed.com)  This being my 3rd baby and me not gaining too much in my previous pregnancies, I assumed this one would be the same.  WRONG-O!  I gained exactly 40 (my starting weight was 123 lbs) and I birthed an 8 lb 11 oz man child.  My other two weighed in at 7.14 lbs and 7.9 lbs.  Ok, back to the "miracle" product.

So as I researched products made for postpartum recovery, I came across the Belly Bandit.  It had rave reviews from celebrities on their website and by the women who work in a local mom/baby boutique in town called BC.  For $69.95 I was not expecting the world but I did have to buy 2 sizes.  So maybe I was expecting nothing short of a miracle.  So the question.  Did it have the desired results?  YES!  I wore it day and night for 6 weeks, only taking it off to wash the BB and also to shower.  It offered support for my back which was majorly needed since ab muscles are non-existent post-baby. The BB website recommends you wear the BB for 6-8 weeks and say that you might need to purchase more than one size during that time.  They have 5 different "models" of the BB.  I purchase the Bamboo one, mostly because that's all BC carried.   Here's a picture of the product:

(source: bellybandit.com)

And here are pics of my results:

This picture was taken after six days of wearing it.  

This one was taken June 13.  I had been wearing the Belly Bandit for a month.  

Now, I don't know what my weight is currently (I don't own a scale) but my stomach has significantly shrunk back.  I'll still need to rebuild my ab muscles and lose the flab of skin that appears when I sit down (you know the one.  it hangs over your pants).  I haven't dieted for the reason stated above but I have had to cut out dairy products and chocolate because it makes baby T super fussy.  I have only exercised once and that was right after the 4 weeks picture was taken.  

So my results may be unusual but check out their website and see the testimonials of other women.  I am truly grateful I found this product.  It saved me from having to purchase a completely new wardrobe (which would have been fun but upsetting since I LOVE my current wardrobe and have spent too much $$ on it.) and the BB also offered support for my back during those early days of postpartum recovery.  So, for $150, the Belly Bandit was money well spent.  I'm now waiting for my MotherTucker Nursing Tanks to come in 

so I can have continued support post-baby and the confidence to get back into my pre-pregnancy clothes.  Thanks, Belly Bandit for making a FABULOUS product.

(don't mind the hole in the wall..)

xo,

June

(Disclaimer: I was not paid or given any compensation for my use and review of the BellyBandit)

Grateful

I thought I'd take a quick moment to blog.  Baby T is growing like a weed and currently going through a growth spurt.  But I'm not here to blog about growth spurts..

There's this girl I knew whose husband served a mission for my church in the same mission as Dr J and she recently just had her 8th baby.  They lived in our WTx town for a while but then moved to Oregon and they are soon moving to Syracuse, NY.  She has had very difficult pregnancies and this last one, Jen was pregnant with twins and one of the babies died during the pregnancy.  Here's the link to her blog: Moss Moments.   As I read through her blog today, my heart ached for her.  I felt truly grateful and blessed to have easy pregnancies and healthy babies.  I know that no one has an easy life and we are given challenges in this life that sometimes seem impossible to bear.  I'm grateful for my family, friends and my faith that have helped and sustained me in dark times.  I am grateful to know that they are there for the trials that will come in my life.

I am grateful for this sweet baby and his first smiles.

Today, I am grateful.  

Happy Birthday Trixie!

Oh gosh, there is so much I want to say about my friend Trixie. I'll start with I'm so glad she was born! She deserves all the happiness in the world. I wish I was eating Georgetown Cupcakes with her right now. So Trixie, this is me, missing you, and hoping you know how dear you are to me.

Go big or go home

Thats's what we say in Texas, y'all.

I done had my baby.  Baby T was born May 11 at 10:41 am.  He was 8lbs 11oz and 21 in long. And if you have seen me, you know that 8.11 is a big A baby for me.   He was a good pound bigger than both his brother and sister.  T is the sweetest baby and I am surviving life as a mother of 3.

3 is hard, y'all.  It is rough some days.  But T sleeps well at night so luckily I can sorta function during the day.

I hope all is well with you, dear readers.  i'll try not to be MIA too much.  Jes is busy with work so life has caught up to both of us.  Eventually, someday, we'd like for this blog to be more but this obviously isn't the right season in life.

xo,
june