Losing the Baby Weight

the most asked question I get is "how did you lose the baby weight?! you look good!" 

well, I'm about to let you in on my best kept secret..... I wrap. and no, I don't mean the It Works wraps. 

now, this method only works if you are less than 10lb away from your goal/original weight. so don't go thinking you can make major results like with the It Works wraps; those results are ones you'll have to pay for. but you WILL lose the bloating and a little bit of the pudge.

now first, you need to keep hydrated. and I don't just mean 8 glasses of water or a water bottle here and there. you will need to drink all day. keep a gallon size water filled and sip on the water. this works best if you cut out other fluids like juices, soda, and milk as well.

now, once you've had your fill of water, go get a roll of clear Saran Wrap. suck in your gut a little bit and wrap the Saran Wrap TIGHTLY around your midsection. start at your hips and end just under the underwire/band of your bra.

leave this on for as long as you possibly can (I usually do it at night and leave it on til morning) while continuing to drink water. and when you take it off you'll notice most of your bloating has subsided.

WARNING: you WILL sweat excessively. and this will be uncomfortable to have the Saran Wrap wrapped so tightly. it's not meant to be comfortable, it's meant to help you lose an inch or two.

some friends of mine have been known to wrap underneath their workout clothes and go walking or running on the treadmill and on the bikes at the gym too. this has proven to have even more successful results.

I hope you enjoy your journey to a thinner, less bloated, healthier-looking you! 

What's in my Diaper Bag?

Sorry I've been slacking on my blog posts! Life with a newborn is definitely an adventure! but now that things have slowed down and I'm getting the hang of motherhood, I figured I'd start my blog posts back up again! and what better way to share my experiences than to help you all new mothers to be and maybe even some of you more seasoned mommas by sharing what I carry with me on a day to day basis and hopefully give some good reviews!

I am the proud owner of the JJ Cole Stone Gray Arbor Diaper Bag! I absolutely love this diaper bag! there's so much room and so many pockets for storage. the style is subtle and could even be pulled off as purse! the inside is waterproof and it even comes with a fold up travel changing insert!

Now on to what my magical bag of wonders holds!

1. Babyganics Foaming Hand Sanitizer

this hand sanitizer is organic, alcohol-free, hypoallergenic, and it doesn't have that harsh smell that regular sanitizer has! perfect to keep your hands smelling fresh and keep them clean at the same time!

2. Triple Paste Diaper Ointment

this stuff is awesome! I've used Desitin but nothing compares to Triple Paste! it's hypoallergenic, medicated, and has a very thick texture that gives an amazing barrier between baby's skin and the diaper itself. I usually apply a moderate layer that's pretty white and don't rub it in. by the time it's time to change her again it has somewhat absorbed into her skin and on the diaper and the irritated redness and swelling has completely gone! 

3. Nuk Tooth & Gum Wipes

these are perfect for when Shiloh decides to projectile spit her pacifier out of her mouth and onto the floor. I instantly whip out one of these and wipe it down after rinsing it under hot water before giving it back to her. they are also good for wiping her gums down to get rid of the thrush in her mouth.

4. Muslin Swaddle Blankets

I breastfeed Shiloh mainly; so I carry two Swaddle blankets with me at all times. one to wrap her in if she gets uncomfortable or cold. and one to use as a nursing cover while I feed her. they're perfect and lightweight and breatheable!

5. 15 Million Volt Takedown Tazer

I don't play games when it comes to my daughter and I's safety. Whenever I go out I always make sure I have my Tazer packed away so that if someone were to approach me that sketches me out or someone comes up behind me while loading or unloading her from the car, I can protect her and stop whoever is approaching us uninvited.

6. Tommie Tippie 5oz Baby Bottle

I mainly breastfeed but I also bring formula for supplementation on the off chance my milk production has slowed for the day or she doesn't get her fill when she cluster feeds. I love these bottles because they're lightweight, easy for her to drink from, and the nipple is similar to human anatomy so it isn't difficult for her to latch to.

7. Phillips Avent Pacifier

I love these! they're so easy for Shiloh to keep in her mouth and they're orthodontic approved!

8. Muslim Cloth Diapers

I don't use these as diapers. they're perfect to use as burp cloths or spit-up cloths! they're thick and absorbent, but they roll up nice and tight to be stowed away easily. they're also soft so baby doesn't mind having her face near them.

9. Bottled Water

Always make sure you carry bottled water for formula mixing or the off chance you're dying of thirst!

10. Formula Dispenser

these are awesome! you can portion out three different bottles and don't have to worry about lugging around a big can of formula in your bag to take up space.

11. Pampers Swaddlers

these are super absorbent, soft for baby's butt, and they have a line that tells you when baby is wet! they also have an elastic waistband to form to baby's unique shape! 

12. Pampers Sensitive Wipes

these wipes are perfect and lifesavers! thick and absorbent and have a nice fresh smell to them. they're made for sensitive skin which is awesome! and they don't rip when you wipe!

13. Safety 1st Healthcare & Grooming Kit

I carry shiloh's healthcare and grooming kit with me everywhere. it has band aids, a suction for her nose, baby nail files, a thermometer and so many more health safety and grooming items such as a brush and hair trimming scissors.

I absolutely would not go anywhere without all of these items fully stocked in my diaper bag. Don't make the mistake of doing so! Run out to your nearest Babies R Us and pick them up today! you won't be disappointed!

My First Week of Motherhood

I absolutely love being a mom.

every cry, every feeding, every dirty diaper, every hour without sleep.

In my first week of motherhood, I have learned this:

when I look into my beautiful little girl's big blue eyes, I know in my heart she's worth it all. I understand now what they mean by love at first sight. from the very second I laid eyes on her, I knew she was the most amazing little miracle God has ever blessed me with. 

I thank Terry every morning and every night for the most precious little gift I've ever been given. Shiloh IS my soul. her name is engraved in my heart and with every breath I breathe, I take it all in. I absolutely adore her with every beat of my heart. every minute spent, every little second is the most beautiful moment I've spent alive. because of Shiloh my life has been changed forever. and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything on this earth. 

I can't wait to watch this little girl grow and learn and live her beautiful little life with every ounce of happiness she can.

she is the reason why I smile now. she's my entire world and grows deeper and deeper into my heart every day that passes.

if you're blessed enough to experience motherhood, either now or in the past or even in the future, cherish it! it's truly the most beautiful adventure you'll ever embark on.

Q&A: Session Two

@the.illes.family.of.4:

 life without my husband being home is tough. understandably; because we haven't been apart for more than a day at a time for the past year and two months. but he's worth the struggles we face. I absolutely adore being a mom. I thought I would struggle with the sleep deprivation and the cries of a newborn; but I absolutely adore every minute of it. my life is exactly as I've always dreamed it should be. I love it. my daughter and my husband are my heart and soul. 

@dayswithdelaney: 

I love being a mom. it is the best thing that's ever happened in my life. I don't struggle with much. I struggled more during my pregnancy than I ever do now. I absolutely love this journey. it's been so rewarding.

@kendall_xoxo93:

being a new mom is soooo much better than the sickness and pain I felt throughout my pregnancy. I'm adjusting so well and so is she. she's such a happy little soul. and I absolutely love her. she's so sweet. 

@kaylemarisahood:

my labor was the exact opposite of what I expected it to be. I thought the pain was going to be ridiculous. my labor was soooo easy. my pregnancy pain towards the end of it was worse than labor pains were.

Happy Birthday Shiloh

so as most of you know, I was scheduled for induction the morning of April 9th. I called at 6am and was at the hospital by 7:30am waiting to be admitted and taken to my room. at 8:20am they finally brought me back into Labor and Delivery. the nurses and doctors each came in and explained exactly what every procedure was and what they were going to plan on doing and by 9am I was fitted with an IV, in my hospital gown, and positioned in the birthing bed to await the arrival of my precious little girl.

childbirth is a crazy thing. it changes your entire outlook on life once you bring a child into the world. as I wondered what was going to change for me and sat there waiting to dilate, my nerves skyrocketed. I'll admit I was terrified. I was scared of the pain, scared of wether or not I was ready for this parenting journey, and scared that my husband was not going to be there for possibly the biggest day of our lives.

at first I was dilating very slow and my progress was discouraging. so they decided to use a tool that looks similar to that of a balloon. they insert it and when you get to a certain point they set the dilation for, it falls out; which can take up to two hours. I waited anxiously for this to happen and sat with my mother and mother in law chatting and laughing and trying anything to keep my mind off of it.

as I'm sitting there 15 minutes go by and I felt pressure and then feeling similar to pooping my pants and I felt the bag of fluid the balloon was tied to fall to the floor... instantly I looked at my mom and mother in law with wide eyes and shouted "I thought I just shit myself!" which then was followed by a 45 minute giggle fit and disbelief that it really only took 15 minutes to dilate to 4cm. 

the next few hours included two doses of Stadol (which doesn't block the pain, but makes you VERY LOOPY and feels like you're drunk). Stadol is a miracle drug. it made me not care about the pain at all. I felt every bit of it, but it blocked my ability to be able to reason that what I was feeling was real life. so therefore, I concluded that I wasn't in pain.

after the two doses of stadol, I begun to feel my contractions at 2 min apart. and pressure in my pelvis and around my butt. it made me feel like I had to poop again with every contraction that came.

my mother in law turns to my nurse and asked "are you guys going to break her water?" and almost immediately, I felt the biggest gush of warmth I've felt in my entire life filling up my bed; about 2lb of fluid. and I instantly screamed "I think I just peed! I think I just peed myself!" and the whole room busted out laughing. then my nurse told me to stand up out of the bed so he could change my sheets for the anesthisiologist to come and administer my epidural. my mom sat in a chair in front of me and helped me to my feet. immediately as I stood I felt another gush and another 2lb of fluid pouring down my legs and onto the floor resulting in something that looked like a kiddie pool at my feet. I instantly started laughing again; shocked by how much fluid I lost. when I looked down at my belly I noticed the size had been practically cut in half! all of a sudden I looked like I was 5 months pregnant instead of 9.

and then the best invention ever came into my life-- the epidural! within minutes I was feeling better than I ever imagined.

I got checked at 12am and found out I had gone from 4cm to 10cm and that I was going to be pushing in an hour. after the hour, I pushed for 45 min and then the most miraculous entrance I've ever seen was made. Little miss Shiloh popped out with the cord wrapped around her neck and around the length of her body. the white cord spiraling against her pink skin looked similar to a candy cane. I was amazed. it took a few minutes for her to cry, but finally the most pitiful squeak I've ever heard sprang from her mouth.

and thus the second love of my life was born.

Shiloh Marie Kelley. born April 10th at 1:52am. 7lb 15oz and 21 inches long. 

born with a head of dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes. the most beautiful gift my husband has ever given to me.

Q&A from Instagram Followers

Q: how did I come up with her name?

A: honestly, Shiloh's name was chosen out of several of my favorite baby names I pulled from an app. Her middle name, Marie, is my husband's mom's middle name. and her last name, Kelley, is my husband's last name. (no I have not changed my last name legally to Kelley yet but I will be once she is born.

Q: what's my anticipation of being a mommy, or how do I feel being so close to having her?

A: oh gosh this is a tough one! all throughout my pregnancy I was completely prepared for what the future holds. I never thought once about it. but now I'm honestly a bit terrified. I ask myself all the time if I'll be a good mom or  what if I don't adjust well to being a mommy. but my anticipation is killing me, despite my questions: I am so so incredibly excited to be a mommy. I cannot wait to share in this journey with my husband and family and friends.

Q: what was my wedding like?

A: I got legally married at the courthouse. but my wedding ceremony is currently set to be sometime in Fall of 2016. after shiloh is born, my husband and I are going to be hard at work planning!

Q: what would I have named her if she were a boy?

A: my top gender name choices were

Shiloh Marie Kelley - for a girl

Ryland Trienens Kelley - for a boy

so she would have been named Ryland Trienens Kelley if she were a boy. the middle name Trienens is my husband's second middle name.

Q: do I want more children in the future?

A: oh gosh! ahaha let me get through this crazy kiddo first and give it a couple years, but I think maybe by that time my husband and I will want to make Shiloh a big sister. just depends on where we're at in life.

Q: who do I think she will look like?

A: I honestly think she'll look more like her daddy. but who knows! I'm adopted, therefore I don't know exactly what my side of the family looks like (I only have one or two pictures of my birth parents) so I'm not sure who she'll look like more. it's actually kind of exciting to think about! (:

Q: how do I feel with my husband not being here to experience her "firsts"?

A: well it doesn't matter much how I feel, because regardless he is still going to miss the first 8 months or so of her life. BUT! I'm thinking positively. I'll be sending him pictures every day of her progress and her growth. I'll be sending him videos of her and care packages with things that she has done and experienced. and he will be sending me pictures of himself over the deployment so that I can share them with her and teach her who her daddy is and that he loves her very much.

It's a..... GIRL?!

pregnancy is a strange thing.

the day I found out I was going to be a mom was a whirlwind of information and feelings I'd never experienced before. while exciting, it also brought a wave of confusion and questions that I had never had to think about before.

so there I found myself; sitting and researching and pondering all the new experiences I was going to have. the first 3 months were pure hell. I was sick all the time, and couldn't even muster the energy to get out of bed for weeks. I went from 125lb to 117lb in three or four days. I was admitted to the ER several times for dehydration because my morning sickness would not allow me to even keep myself hydrated, much less let me absorb any kind of nutrients from anything I consumed.

and then in the blink of an eye, the first trimester was over. I began to feel better and gain my strength back. the difference between my first and second trimesters was like night and day. and with the second trimester off to such a great start, I was able to focus on the next exciting adventure of my pregnancy: boy or girl.

by this time I had been oddly drawn to pink over blue, but I had convinced myself I was imagining it and that I was letting my hopes get the best of me. I thought for sure as time drew closer to my anatomy ultrasound that I was going to be the mother of a bouncing baby boy. 

I remember waking up more vividly than anything. November 6th, 2014. glanced over at the clock and-- 15 minutes late! (I knew I should have set my alarm for earlier!) Terry and I rushed to get ready, threw on clothes and headed on our way to the hospital. 

upon arrival I ran inside while he parked the car. the nurse called me back about 10 min after check-in and I prepared myself to see for the second time my little sea monkey on the ultrasound screen.

I laid back, she applied the cold jelly to my belly and there went the ultrasound scope.

it felt like forever as she went through all the normal measurements and anatomy. normal spine, normal head shape, normal abdomen, and all it's fingers and toes. yet another perfect heartbeat, and due date was set! April 2nd, 2015 seemed like a great day for a birthday to me. 

the nurse turned from the screen and gave me a cheeky smile and asked the dreaded question; "would you like to know what you're having?".....

I thought for a moment, staring at my little baby moving and twirling and its little heart fluttering on the screen and said yes.

let me tell you this: the amount of time between the "yes" and the time they finally tell you seems like an eternity! I'm convinced they take forever on purpose so that you can rack your brain about all of the possible outcomes and make yourself over-anxious about the results. 

and then she said it; "you're having a girl".....

Terry came in the room immediately after. and from the look on my face I figured he knew what was coming for him. he had missed the whole appointment. the nurse asked him if he was indeed the daddy and if he wanted to know what we were expecting.

he nodded with a smile, hoping for that little blue blessing. searching the ultrasound screen for any hint of a little penis. 

the nurse looked at him with a smile and repeated what she had told me. and I waited for a reaction.

and that's when my loving boyfriend dropped his head low and laughed and smiled; hesaid quite frankly and matter-of-factly:

"shit. I'm screwed. looks like I'm getting a gun." 

when we finally arrived home after my appointment, I asked him how he felt about the results, and he smiled cheekily and said "woman, you always get what you want. and I am ecstatic to be on this journey with you. now let me hurry and get back to work, the boys are all dying to know the gender....."