Silly Mirror and Car

We live across the street from a mall, so Amelia and I go for walks there frequently.  Fortunately, there is an indoor playground there too.  Amelia has been too small to play there, but I thought I would try it out today.  She had a blast!

Silly Mirror-

Amelia was squeeling and shaking her arms because she was so excited.

Her new ride.  She really enjoyed spinning the steering wheel around.

"Riding around in my automobile... with Amelia Lehman at the wheel"

She LOVED the car.  She cried when I took her out :(

Run Mary, Run!

Before Amelia was born, I worked out for at least 7 hours a week.  I did kick-boxing, Pilates, Step, and ran.  I went to the gym religiously and it was a big part of my life.  I had always told myself that I would never be one of those people that let exercising go by the wayside once they had a child.  Sadly, I had become exactly that. 

Fortunately, I was able to lose all the baby weight without exercising.  Yay, for breastfeeding!  Now, I actually weigh 6 pounds less than my pre-baby weight.  It sounds impressive, but it actuality, it's not. I've lost most of my muscle mass, so I'm not toned at all... just jiggly. *TMI warning* My butt is the worst... it's so flat! To make matters worse, I have my c-section scar and nasty stretch marks all over my stomach and thighs. It's not a pretty picture :( I also get winded when I walk up stairs!

Post baby, I had a million excuses not to exercise:  too busy, no childcare, too tired, etc.  I admit that I probably could have worked something out to fit in some time, but I was just too lazy!

But things they are a changing... Now that we have the jogging stroller, I'm able to take Amelia with me for runs.  No more excuses.  I will still really miss going to fitness classes, but this will have to do for now.  (I'm not much of a runner.)

I went for my first post-baby run yesterday and it was brutal.  I did a 3.7 mile run route that begins and ends with hills!  I am soooooo out of shape; it's sad.  I also have to get used to pushing the stroller and running without feeling awkward. 

I'm hoping this will be a good start to get me back into shape.  I just need to stick with it...

Caught in the Act!

Amelia Pooping! 

She sighs in relief after she's finished...

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the best mom ever!  I have always been thankful for my mom and all that she's done for me.  She is a great role model and I am blessed to have learned from the best.  Now that I'm a mom, I truly and sincerely appreciate my mom much more! 

My mom and I (Amelia is in my belly!)

My mom, Amelia's Lola

Of course, I can't talk about appreciating mothers without mentioning Jimmy's mom, Nancy!  She has been in my life since I was 15, so she has been definitely been like a second mother to me.  I am so thankful and lucky to have such a close relationship with my mother-in-law.  I am also thankful that she raised such a wonderful son, who has grown to be a loving husband and caring dad.

My first Mother's Day

I love you Amelia and thank you for making me a mom!

"Having you to love is reason enough to celebrate... but now that it's Mother's Day, there all the more reason."

I got to celebrate Mother's Day all weekend.  On Friday, I went to a Mother's Day brunch with my friends.  It was fun because there were 12 of us in the restaurant and we all had babies under the age of one.  We got lots of stares and visitors.  Amelia had a blast hanging out with her friends too... until it was nap time and she had a meltdown!

Since we knew the weather was going to be rainy on Sunday, we celebrated on Saturday and went for a walk along the Sligo Creek Trail.  During one of Jimmy's runs, he found a playground shaped like a pirate ship, so during our walk we took Amelia there to play.  For dinner, we also ordered take out from one of my favorite places, Crisp and Juicy, which has the BEST Peruvian chicken, ever. 

I slept in until 10am of Sunday and it was awesome!  Later in the day, Amelia and Jimmy took me to the mall for a Mother's Day shopping spree since I am in dire need of casual clothes.  However, we went during Amelia's nap time, which was a bad idea, and we had to leave early since she had a meltdown, ha ha ha.  Overall, I'd say it was a memorable Mother's Day weekend!  (I hope I get to celebrate all weekend next year too.)  

If You're Happy and You Know It...

She loves this song!  The Next American Idol?

Bored? Need Friends? Have a baby.

Our day to day is much busier now that Amelia is in our lives.  Not only is caring for a baby overwhelming and time consuming, it's amazing how many more things you're invited to when you have a child.  It's to the point where we have to pick and chose what we plan do.  One Saturday, we were invited to three activities in one day: two birthday parties and a trip to the zoo.

Having said that, weekends are sacred at our house.  Since Jimmy works all week and Amelia goes to bed so early, we use the weekends to catch up on quality family time.  We are definitely learning to balance everything.  Now that I'm at home, I try to run all the errands during the week, so that weekends are free for fun family activities.   

I have met so many people because of Amelia.  When we arrived in DC I only knew a few people, mostly through the military, and none of which had babies.  Because of the "baby connection" I've met so many people through work, mommy/baby groups, and military spouses.  At times it's overwhelming, but I am so thankful.  Now, I feel like I have to juggle my schedule to hang out with everyone. 

I even randomly met a person in the parking garage of our apartment!  She saw that I had a baby and we talked for a little bit.  Then, the next day, I found a note on my car asking if I wanted to have a play date with her and her son.  As a matter a fact, that's what Amelia and I did today!  We went for a walk and a picnic at a nearby park.  It turns out that Floriane is the same age as me and her son is just a few weeks older than Amelia. 

The best part about meeting Floriane is that she lives just down the hall from us.  She plans to join Amelia and I on some of our daily walks and we've made plans to go into the city and take the kids to the National Mall.  She's French, so she also suggested that we go "for a coffee," but I'm planning on introducing her to bubble tea...

Jimmy and I have decided that, for sanity's sake, that I should have a few hours during the week to myself.  Thankfully, we have an awesome babysitter that will watch Amelia once a week for a few hours.  At first I was thinking I would use the precious few hours to clean and run errands... but I think a nap would be a better use of the time ;0)

Jimmy and I also have it worked out so that each of us has an opportunity to sleep-in on the weekends.  Jimmy takes Saturday mornings and I do Sunday.  Saturday mornings are the best because not only do I get to sleep-in, but Jimmy takes Amelia to The Little Gym, so I get another hour or so to myself to relax.

Double Whammy

Argh!  Jimmy's travel schedule is getting really annoying.  Jimmy had a back-to-back TDY.  He was at Fort Eustis last week, came home for the weekend, and then left for Fort Sam, in San Antonio.  Thankfully, he'll be home soon. 

It's times like this when I don't regret my decision to resign from my job.  It was definitely easier to deal with it without the baby because all I had to worry about was myself.  Now, I have the added responsibility of taking care of Amelia.  Since we don't have any family in the area, it's tough and I'm basically a single mom.  Amelia needs her daddy and I can tell she misses him. 

Thankfully, we had a busy week with meeting up with friends, play dates, and play groups.  I'm used to being alone with Amelia during the day, but the nights are the toughest.  By then I'm exhausted and in need of a break and Jimmy usually does the nighttime routine and puts her to bed.  I also get lonely once she's down for the night.

Then there is the thought deployment hanging over my head.  It's not a matter of if, but WHEN.  It's inevitable and I'm dreading the day Jimmy tells me he has to leave.  I guess I better not stress out about it until it actually happens.

She's Stuck!

Amelia is very frustrated because she cannot crawl.  She's getting really close... just a few more weeks (possibly days?) and she'll be on the move!

Lazy Baby Bubbles

At eight months, Amelia has no interest in crawling.  If she wants something out of reach, she will either:

1. Scream

2. Roll around until she gets to it

3. Scream & cry

4. Attempt to reach for it and then move onto something else

5. Did I say scream?

I thought the bubbles would entice her...

Nope.  Bubbles didn't work.

16 Years

May 1, 1995

I know it's cheesy, but Jimmy and I still celebrate the day we started "going out."  We were so young and innocent back then.  It's hard to believe it's been 16 years.  I've now been with Jimmy for more than half my life.  You would think that by now we would be sick of each other, ha ha ha, but through the years our love has actually grown stronger.  I'm more in love with him than ever.

Happy Anniversary Sir!

I know I've posted these pictures before, but every time I look at them, I am flooded with so many great memories!

Senior Prom 1998