Taking Care of Mom - Post-Baby

Last week, I wrote a post about baby gifts - what to get and what not to get expectant moms. In truth, I've been really lucky - I LOVE everything that's been given to us but the post made me think about what we need and what I need in a larger capacity. I'm constantly being told by my friends that right now is the time to indulge and be selfish ... to spend a little money on myself. In one day, I was told to get a manicure and pedicure plus a new haircut and hair color ... by four different people. First of all, I like my hair cut and my color. Second, I can do my nails myself. Doing my toes is a bit harder but, c'mon people, it's winter! I have a hard enough time shaving my legs this time of year - don't expect me to get a pedicure!

Anyway, as I eagerly await the arrival of the little monster currently destroying my insides, I'm pinning away on Pinterest. My friend, Sarah, wrote a great post about how loving your kids and loving motherhood are not the same thing. This got me thinking that I really need to find things that are just for me so I don't wind up resenting motherhood or my child. So, I created three new boards on Pinterest: Healthy Foods, Post-Baby Workout, and Post-Maternity Style. I know I'm supposed to be worried about the baby's well being, and I will be, but who is going to worry about my well being. So many of my friends have had children and then stopped taking care of themselves. While I won't call them out publicly on it, I really don't want to go that route. Craig and I agreed a loooooonnnnnng time ago that taking care of me is just as important as taking care of Baby Glaser.

During parts of my pregnancy, I went a little crazy with foods that weren't necessarily healthy for me. While 90% of what I eat is good for me, 10% of it hasn't been and I want to change that... hence my health board. I have no intention of eating fat-free this or reduced-calorie that (you should know me better) but I want to put more fruit and veggies into my belly. This pregnancy was rough... I couldn't eat so many complex carbohydrates like brown rice, multigrain bread, or even wheat bread! It totally messed with my system. I love smoothies but, lately, fruit has been really expensive here. I've started freezing fruit that's about to go off and even started buying things like pineapple and apricot in their canned variety. Thankfully, we have a little blender so making smoothies isn't so rough but those are about to get healthier as well!

Once the baby is out, I'm going back to eating healthier!

I'm also heading back to the gym as soon as I can!! So many of my friends tell me that just getting out for a walk helps clear the mind but the gym is "me" time. It'll be a chance for Craig to bond with the baby and a chance for me to get away from the baby ... and Craig ... and the dogs. Don't worry, I won't go overboard but I want to lose the baby weight, get healthy, and be on a path that could have me looking like this:

Source: glamour.com via Hillary on Pinterest

Ok, maybe I won't look like that ... but I'd like to look healthy. And be a size 4. Again. One of my bloggy friends said this wasn't a lofty goal since the baby will need fresh air (and I will need to get out of the apartment), daily walks will help me lose the baby weight. I do have a goal - look better by the time my maternity leave is over. "Better" means not double-chinned and bloated.

The last part of taking care of me comes in the form of clothing. I have clothes that can last me a few weeks after the baby is born but once the initial bloat is gone and I'm deflated, I can't really wear some of this stuff ... and I don't want to invest in a new wardrobe just yet. Remember, I want to lose weight so investing in a brand new wardrobe is just dumb ... but I did make a deal with my Dad. When he and Jo-mama visit, they'll babysit so I can go interim-clothes shopping. Here are a few of my basic style ideas:

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Hillary on Pinterest

If you couldn't tell, I like jeans... a lot. The problem: I don't have any!!! These outfits are my cool-Mommy casual-chic outfits that can (and will) be mixed and matched.

So, what do you do to take care of you post-baby? Is there anything special you do for "me" time? 

Red Lentil (Lebanese-style) Soup = AMAZING! Recipe included!

It's Friday! You know what that means? It means I'm going to do NOTHING for the next two days because this pregnant lady REALLY needs to unwind and relax. I'm going to make this a short post because A) I'm tired and B) I'm lazy. Sound like a plan?

First, I want to touch on a few emails Craig and I got from you awesome readers yesterday. If you've been watching the news, you know there's some major sh*t going on in Southern Israel (like terror attacks). We are fine and have no plans to visit Eilat right now (it's WAAAAAAY too hot - both in climate and in political issues). We live in North-Central Israel (not like South Central LA) where it's quiet and the only big thing that happens here is the H&M that just opened in our local mall (YAY!!!!) - that's as big as it gets. We're fine though.

On another note, I made red lentil soup yesterday and was pleasantly surprised at how easy and fast it was (seriously!) - so if you're ever in a bind and need a good any-time soup recipe, this is a good and hearty soup. You will NOT want to eat anything for hours, I promise. Before I dish out my recipe, I'll ask you this: What are YOU making to eat this weekend?


Here's my revised recipe (adapted from AllRecipes.com):

• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 pound red lentils
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 celery stalk
• 2 tablespoons salt
  
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Bring chicken stock and lentils to a boil in a large saucepan over low heat - you don't need to cover the pot.
   
2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over low heat. Stir in garlic and onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, then brown it.Then add your carrots, let it sit for about 3-5 minutes.
   
3. Stir onions and carrots into the lentils and season with cumin and salt. Add in the celery Continue simmering until the lentils are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
4. Carefully puree the soup in a standing blender, or with a stick blender until smooth. Stir in lemon juice before serving. Start will a little lemon juice -you can always add more if you need to.

Being Pregnant... SUCKS. Part I

I had a revelation the other day...


I'M PREGNANT!

LOL, OK. I know that's not news, especially not to me.

Today, I had another revelation...

I FEEL pregnant.

That's a first.

When I was in Detroit last month, I was already showing (yes, at 9-12 weeks). But it was that "is she pregnant or just fat" kind of showing.

Now I'm actually really showing. I figured it out this morning when I was at work. I went to use the restroom and as I was pulling up my insanely stupid maternity pants I saw it... my belly. It was round. Seriously.

As I waddled back to my office, I realized I was waddling. No longer walking so much... more waddling like a duck. A duck who can walk in a straight line.

Needless to say, being pregnant is not fun for me. Are there any women out there who LIKED being pregnant? Do I have something to look forward to?

My friend, Joanna (you know, the Soulful Coach), promised me that my second trimester would be blissful. WTF! Why am I not blissful??? Why am I crankier than my grandma?? I'm hot and cold all the time; I eat wickedly weird foods together (like a Nestle Crunch ice cream bar with salt and pepper potato chips); I pee every five minutes (over share?); AND breathing is harder.

WHY IS BREATHING SO HARD??

Whew. OK. The angst is out but why am I so angsty? I feel like Mary the Federal Marshall on In Plain Sight. Yeah, you know who I'm talking about. I'm her. Right. Now.

Anyone got a valium? I kid. I kid.

Suggestions please!!!