I survived the gym!

So yesterday I had my six week postpartum checkup. It went really well, I was told I could go back to living my "old" life which included working out. I wasn't too concerned about getting in shape any time soon, that is, until I found out Natalie's (my oldest friend) wedding was moved up to this September from next years May. So that means I need to get crackin on it. So after talking to many friends and my sis' for reassurance that leaving Elsie in the gym's child care wouldn't make me a bad mommy, I decided to go. I was in tears the whole way there, but pulled myself together when I went inside. I introduced Elsie and myself to the Child Care staff and rambled on for what seemed forever about how nervous I was to leave her. I could see it in there eyes that they were used to moms like me and even though it was comforting I still felt as though they pried the car seat from me as I was going on about how she should stay sleeping and that if she wakes up she is really easy to console, seriously they were just nodding their heads and were like "She'll be fine ma'am, go enjoy your workout." I slowly walked away thinking first off, "I don't know you so how do I know she'll be fine and secondly who really enjoys their workout after not working out for six weeks!" Suffice it to say I prayed the first ten minutes on the elliptical that she would be safe (mind you I was only on it for 20 min so basically half the time) when God spoke to me, it was pretty personal so I won't go into it but basically I trusted him. I finished out my run, did some weights and crunches and called it a day. Granted I only worked out for 45 minutes, it was a big step for me in motherhood. After picking her up and realizing she was perfectly fine I decided I would go back but only two days a week. I will go to two classes a week with Shan and then if there is an evening Micah can watch her I will try and go but I just can't see leaving my fragile gem with people I don't know everyday. Maybe when she is a little older and can at least hold her head up, until then I guess I will just have to go back to eating healthy since I won't be able to work out as much as I would need to get in shape for the summer, which I am totally OK with. With that being said, I must get rid of all the fatty goodness I have in the house. I literally just walked almost a whole chocolate cream pie next door to the neighbors... sigh. I will admit, I made sure to have one last bite before I said good ridden.

Elsie loves her sling

She loves her daddy more.

6 weeks

Today Elsie is six weeks old. It is kind of hard to believe, but it's true. Our baby girl is growing up. I almost can't stand how cute she is getting. I swear I smother her in about a thousand kisses a day, she is just to sweet I can't help it. She is definitely filling out more, you can see it in her cheeks and thighs. Her schedule is is almost consistent everyday, which makes it easy to run errands and go out. I love having her with me wherever I go. It's so weird because there are so many moments I stop and think how my life was before and it is so hard to imagine it without her in it. Like having her as an addition to the family has made our lives more fulfilled. It's weird to say that considering I felt my life was so fulfilled before with just Micah and I. Enjoy some pics I took yesterday of her

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1 month

That's right folks, Elsie turned 1 month old yesterday! I had this sad realization that I will now be counting her age in months instead of weeks, it has gone by too quickly. I feel like I just brought her home. She is growing stronger everyday and it surprises me how much she is doing for being so small. She is holding her head up longer, pushing her self up with her legs, smiling so much more and even starting to become a little chatterbox. She is incredibly sweet and continues to melt my heart everyday. I always knew children were a blessing from the Lord but didn't realize how much until I had my own. God is good.

I must warn you the following pictures will melt your heart.

She puckers her lips like this all the time. Her little monkey face.

Holding her head up

Look at that smile... look at that belly!

Easter with Elsie

So holidays will never be the same around here, they will only get better from here on out. Having your own child to experience events with is something I can't describe. Plus having an adorable baby girl to dress up is a lot of fun as well. This past Saturday there was a community Easter Egg hunt at our local park. The Quiggle's were taking Bea so we figured we'd go and take Elsie on her first Holiday outing. Micah was able to push his little girl in her stroller for the first time, we got a picture with the Easter bunny (he was a lil' dingy looking) and we watched Bea go on the egg hunt.

The rest of the photos are of Elsie on Easter Sunday. We actually made it to church even though it was right during her feeding session. She looked absolutely precious in her Easter Dress! I kept wanting to squeeze her. None of the newborn size dresses fit her yet so I ran out to Ross and found this adorable dress in a Premie size and it fit her perfectly.

Thanks to Micah and Shan Easter was a success. I was completely out of commission. I was so tired and could do nothing but feed Elsie and make small talk with everyone. The food was delicious and everyone just relaxed, all except Shan who not only prepared most of the food, set the table and then cleaned up the whole house after, she seriously helped make Easter so special. I am so blessed with such a great support group in my life.

Please enjoy pictures of our little princess

Micah made Easter baskets for both his girls

Precious!

After a long day

Motherhood

So I have to say, this is and will be the best job of my life. I absolutely love being a mommy to Elsie. She is absolutely precious and is making it way too easy for me. She is a very content baby and is so easily consolable when she does get fussy. I know she is only three weeks old and tougher times are ahead but I just really expected to be a walking zombie these first couple of weeks and to be a blubbering mess. I am tired don't get me wrong and I'm adjusting to Elsie's new eating and napping schedule but it is still just such an amazing experience and it is already going way too fast.

She looks completely different from when I first brought her home and is starting to show more of her personality. It is very apparent that she is a Daddy's Girl. When she hears Micah's voice she perks right up. It is so adorable.

I am including a couple pics of her from this past week. I will write more later but for now I just wanted to let everyone know, I'm alive, I've adjusted and I absolutely love being a mommy!

Uncle Matty came to visit, this is when he first met Elsie!

Walking through the airport, they looked like My Two Dads

Uncle Matty says farewell

Bath Time

Micah just thought she looked like such a big girl sitting heree

Daddy burps her the best