Picture Time!!

 We had a photo shoot!
                                    ENJOY!!!
                                    (Charlotte is 3 months in these)

 beautiful

 thinking

 playing

 love

 best friends

 silly

 YaYa!

family

Thanks to Jessica B Photography

All about the TA-TAS!

So today I signed Mathis and I up to participate in the Susan G 5K. At first I was going to do this as a way to motivate myself to get in shape. You may remember a past post about me doing the couch to 5K  running schedule. Well that ended right after I ran the first time... anyways so then I decided that we would do it  because we have some friends on base that are going to do it with us. So when I was registering us there was a question asking why you have decided to participate in the Race for the Cure. I read through all of the answers (I like to run, I like the people that I will be participating with, or I care about finding a cure). So the first two answers fit, but as I started thinking about the third I remembered at the end of my second trimester, finding a lump in my left boob. 

I was terrified! At that point in my pregnancy, hormones were crazy and something like finding a lump seemed life-altering. I had to wait a couple of weeks before my next doctor's appointment... she felt, and sure enough I was sent to a man that Mathis and I called the "Breastologist." He was really a breast surgeon... Still with no answers, a lump the size of a marble, and pregnancy hormones raging, all I could hope for was that someone would quickly cure this cancer that I just knew I had. I mean, I couldn't have this new baby and go through chemo.. After another month passed, I was finally able to see the breastologist. By this time I was 37 weeks pregnant, and he was ordering a mammogram. I couldn't do that, I don't even know why he ordered it, I was HUGE and we even talked about the pregnancy.. So the breastologist just confirmed there was a lump and sent me on my way. Finally once Charlotte was born and about 2 months old, I was able to have test run. Luckily I do not have breast cancer!! YAY!! I have a clogged milk duct.

With all of that said, I know how terrifying it can be to find a lump. And to think that 1 in 8 women will be told that they do have breast cancer in their lifetime... early detection is the key! So I am running the Susan G Race for the Cure, because I care about finding the cure. I never want to go to the breastologist again, not knowing if those next few words from the doctor will change my life forever.

Yard Sale = New Wheels for Charlotte!

Well, with all of the yucky weather we have been having around here I decided to go through the house and find take out all of the things we no longer use! I must say that I didn't think there would be much, because I am usually really quick to throw things out that we don't use, I HATE CLUTTER! So I started in the kitchen, I reorganized the cabinets and pulled out all the duplicates and the unused small appliances. Then I went into the storage room in our garage... we had things in there that we never unpacked from our move to DC. Then to my craft stuff... I had moved it all down stairs when we found out that I was pregnant because our storage cubes weren't childproof and we knew we would need more room in the living areas for baby stuff. Anyways, I haven't touched it since then, so away it went. So after seeing how much excess  we actually had, I knew that we should have a YARD SALE!! I have never had one.

So after organizing all of the stuff and selling some of the big stuff before hand... yard sale day came!

                            

So after 4 hours of hanging out with friends in the garage, and selling almost everything our pockets are loaded with $$! Now we are off to buy Charlotte a new set of wheels! 

YAY!!! YARD SALES!

Family Traditions!!

Well with Miss Charlotte added to our little family now, I have been thinking more about family traditions. The ones I liked, didn't like, wish we had... I feel that it is these traditions that make a childhood memorable,  weather they are something that happen once a week or once a year. I am talking about things that are a little more special than eating dinner together every night (although that is something that Mathis and I do already and have every intention of continuing as Charlotte gets older).

Growing up in my house, there were traditions that my parents started with my brother and I. These things we began to look forward to when we knew they were coming. I remember getting new Christmas pjs every Christmas eve. It wasn't anything huge, but it was special and constant. I also remember going on family vacations every year. Even though a lot of our spring break vacations were to the same resort in TN, we always had a blast. I think that things like this will help us create a sense of fun and consistency in Charlotte's life.

So I know that I want to continue Christmas pjs and a yearly vacation with my new little family. We have also heard of families having a "special" dinner plate that is different than all of the other ones. This plate is used by someone who has accomplished something (a good grade, dance recital, accepted to college, etc..) or on their special day, like a birthday! One that I know Mathis would like is a monthly backwards dinner... you start with dessert first! I love hearing about new ones and trying to figure out which ones we will have for our own family:)

Please tell me your favorite family traditions!!

Getting in Shape

Well yesterday I went to my 6 week check-up... everything looks good, and I can get back to life! So I asked my mid-wife, Mrs. Oliveria, who is also a runner... How do I start running? Now for those of you who know me, you know that I don't like to be uncomfortable and I really don't like to sweat. These two things have kept me on a couch in the air conditioner for some time now, but I really want to get my body in shape for both vanity and I want to be healthy for Miss Charlotte. So Mrs. Oliveria recommends the "Couch to 5K" program. I came home, googled it, and decided that I could do this! So on Monday my journey shall begin!!

Mathis and I also went and bought bicycles today! This should be fun, I hope that it is true.. you never forget how to ride a bike.. we shall see! He got his mainly because it is cheaper for him to ride to work. Since he only works less than a mile from the house, we (I) didn't see a need for him to take the car. So between the bike, the running, and going to the gym I should be in shape in no time!

WISH ME LUCK!

Catch up!

Sorry for the delay... The last two weeks have been two very full weeks for our little family.

So to catch you all up, Charlotte has been growing with every breath she takes. As of yesterday she is officially out of newborn clothes :( She has learned to follow things visually, and she is much more alert! She has been smiling a lot more often as well. Everyday Mathis and I seem to get more and more wrapped around her little fingers.

Charlotte 2 weeks

Charlotte 4 weeks

Mathis is back at work after four weeks off. He was planning to just stay home the first three weeks, but the Sunday before he was supposed to return my Papa passed away, so off to SC we went. I think he has enjoyed going back, I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss him. I have since asked him to hire someone to move in and take care of me so that I can take care of Charlotte!

I have realized in the past two weeks just how much family means to me. As mentioned before, we went home for my papa's funeral last week. I will miss him so much! It brought back some great memories that I had with him, and I hope that Charlotte will be able to have memories like that with her grandparents. I know that with Mathis being in the military it will be a little different, but I think it is still possible for her to have great times with family! I also enjoyed seeing joy on peoples faces when they were able to see Charlotte. Grandma and some of the other family weren't  expecting to see her until Christmas time, expect by Skype. I love that a little one can make everyones face light up!

Since we have returned to DC and Mathis has went to work, I have been trying to figure out a routine that works for Charlotte and I both. I am very much a routine kind of person, babies don't seem to come on one of their own so it has taken some time. We did get the day/ night situation taken care of!! YAY!

Motherhood: Two Weeks In

Motherhood is full of dirty diapers, spit up, runny noses, sleepless nights, interrupted meals, sore boobs... it is also and more importantly full of learning, love, patience, laughter, togetherness, growth and larger boobs.

In the last two weeks my life has changed, going from order and routine to chaos and flying by the seat of my pants. I am learning exactly what it means to be a mother. I have learned that the official uniform of the mom is pajamas, or at best sweats and t-shirts. I am still learning that bodily functions and fluids are going to be a part of my everyday, and I may as well go ahead and get over it. I have learned that sleep is for the young, the college student, the retired, and the dead, but not at all for the new parent. I have learned to eat with one hand, enjoy my dinner even if it is cold when I finally get to it. And I have learned that if you are going to breastfeed, your boobs will hurt, at least at first.
I have learned that Mathis and I make an awesome team. Laughter is what has kept me going when all I want to do is throw in the towel and go to bed. I have learned to love someone instantly upon meeting her. She has taught me patience. I have learned that I have a lot of room to grow as a person and a lot of learning left to do. And I have learned that bigger isn't always better when it comes to boobs.

Needless to say, Charlotte has changed my life in a really big, positive way. I have gained so much respect and understanding for my own mother in the process (by the way, happy birthday mama)!