Friday, January 21, 2011

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: New Beginnings and Celebrations

Howdy Humble Readers...

I am striving to improve both my blogging and commenting, as they have significantly sucked over the last couple of months.  Granted, I have had a wonderful new distraction, but I miss you all!  In hopes that it will help my blogging re-birth, I have signed up last minute for this month's ICLW.  I'm going for my 6 comments a day... so maybe I'll be back into the swing of things by the end of the week.

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Feel like doing a happy dance with me?  I finally went clothes shopping last weekend, because all my pants were falling off my ass (seriously, I had two pairs of pants left that fit, and I hated one of them and strongly disliked the other).  Pre-Ginny, I was either a 26 or a 28 (told ya I was plus sized) depending on the cut.  I started out optomistically with 24s, but in the dressing room discovered that I needed 22s instead!  Woohoo!  I haven't been that size since sometime just after college.  I ended up with two new pairs of jeans, a pair of casual pants, and 2 shirts... and I got pretty good deals too!

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Speaking of weightloss and such... I was looking back, and since this time last year I have lost 56 pounds!  I lost almost 20 pounds just prior to getting pregnant and with all that I lost right after Ginevra's birth, I'm doing pretty gosh darn well, if I do say so myself.

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Have any of you tried quinoa?  Am I the last person in the world to discover how amazing this stuff is?  I made sausage and peppers last week, and served it over quinoa... Absosmurfly fantastic!  And good for you too!  What a bonus!

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Ginny is growing like a weed.  I had to pack away most of her newborn clothes this past week. (insert tear-y moment)  Because she was so big when she was born, and because of how small my niece and nephew were at birth, Ginny looks to me to be the size of a four month old.  She's getting close to 12 pounds now, and it's almost time for her 2 month vaccinations. 

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Breastfeeding has taken a turn for the worse.  Because she's growing so much, Ginny is needing a more milk than I am capable of producing, even with medical help.  She gets 4-6 goes at the b00b throughout the day, but generally by 3 or 4 in the afternoon, I'm tapped out.  I'm thankful that there are things like formula to help in situations like this, but I still feel a bit like I'm failing her. 

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I mentioned to my Beloved the other day that I was excited because I saw tulips at the grocery store.  That means that spring is coming!  So guess what he came home with for me last night?  A nice little bouquet of red & yellow tulips.  How sweet is he?

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I have a pork roast in the slow cooker tonight, in preparation for a trip to my MIL tomorrow.  We're going to be having BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and broccoli slaw.  What's on the menu for your family?

12 comments :

  1. Yay, you joined ICLW!

    No, you aren't the last one to try quinoa. I still haven't had it.

    Tell your husband he is a real keeper.

    Huge CONGRATS (or maybe it should be shrinking congrats) on your weight loss!

    We had my own spin on baked potato soup. I may have to post the recipe because it turned out pretty fabulously.

    What kind of sauce do you use on your pulled pork sandwiches?

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  2. So great to see a comment from you! I have been meaning to stop by too! I haven't tried quinoa but defs heard many good things. Your beloved is so sweet. Don't feel too bad about breastfeeding, the main thing is she is getting some and you have way more than I had. Take care :)

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  3. Congrats on the weight loss, that is awesome! Glad your daughter is doing well :)

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  4. If you keep bfing(even non-exclusively) you'll need smaller sizes. I have been pleasantly surprised by going down almost a size since the baby turned 1(I stayed the same from 6months post birth).
    You are bfing her, so you aren't failing her, even if you supplement. A lactation consultant told my friend to offer the bottle first, once you feel tapped out, but then offer the bb, so the baby still stimulates more milk getting made. good luck!
    Oh, and yay quinoa, I like white and red.

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  5. I have to admit that me and my dislike-for-cooking self does not even know what quinoa is??? *Blushing.*

    Your DH sounds super sweet! Tulips in the middle of winter, ahhhh.

    Please try not to beat your self up over the breastfeeding stuff. You ARE a wonderful mommy for your sweet girl. Whether or not you breastfeed does not determine your worth as a parent. YOU ARE A GOOD MOMMY!

    Kudos to you for your weight loss, how wonderful!

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  6. I also have not tried quinoa. I priced it out in the grocery store one day and bought barley instead. $$$$!

    Try not to beat yourself up about needing to supplement with formula. Nurse as much as you can and know she's getting a lot of benefit from what she does get. There's no trophy for not having to supplement. :)

    (Hopped over from IComLeavWe)

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  7. I've stopped by your blog before but that was quite awhile ago, so I'm very happy to see your little one arrived safely and is doing well! Congrats on the weight loss - that must feel so great!

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  8. Welcome back to blogging. I'm only new myself to this wonderful world. Congrats on your little girl and what a lovely name. Hope to read about your tales of parenting after IF more often.

    ICLW #126

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  9. Thanks for stopping by my blog! Congratulations on the weight loss. That's fantastic news. All those menu items for the week look great. (Except your broccoli slaw mention... you can keep the broccoli!)

    I haven't eaten quinoa, but I've seen it in the store. I've considered getting it, but I don't really know what I'd do with it. What does it taste like?

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  10. Sounds like you are doing wonderfully well as a Mum!! I haven't tried quinoa either - I keep looking at it and thinking that I should but then put it in the too hard basket!!

    Excellent work on the weight loss, I am back in the saddle as well.

    I was unable to fully breastfeed my boy from the begining unfortunately but I feel blessed that I have gotten to 5 months and he is still getting some breast milk. Try not to beat yourself up - you are doing the best you can. For me, there is nothing worse than not having any breast milk left and my child is screaming for more - no thanks.

    On the menu today - the best tomato and ham soup in the world (home made of course!!) and grilled basa (fish) and greek salad for dinner - Yum!!

    Love your blog.

    ICLW

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  11. I am going to have to figure out this quinoa thing...I keep hearing about it! Duly noted.

    I came home from hospital to a GIANT stuffed love bear, LOL. Hubby gifts rock.

    Holy weight loss! So fun to go shopping for clothes that make you feel sexy, isn't it? Yay!

    Had I known I'd be on bedrest for ICLW I totally would have signed up, LOL. Otherwise I just have too difficult a time keeping up with things.

    Good to see you more :)

    Oh, and as for the BF'ing - any boob juice she gets is good, remember that.

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  12. I haven't tried quinoa yet, either, although I've heard great things about it. Congratulations on your weight loss and on the new smaller size clothes. Way to go! I've been cutting back on my calories and taking an appetite suppressant for just over six months, but I haven't done as well as you have.

    ICLW #104

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