A cornucopia, if you will...

Long time, no bliggity blog. I have been a busy lady here as of late! I am officially a working mama. Yes, I know...all moms are "working moms" (I know this more than ever after being home alone with my little nugget for 8 weeks), but I am a for real working mom because I am getting up at 5 a.m. and getting paid for it (insert angelic music from the heavens here). I haven't had time to blog daily about Noelle's poop or my 30 Day Shred endeavor...so let me present to you the cornucopia of postings, also known as the "what the heck have I been doing with my life?" post.

Commence.

Sunday was my first Mother's Day! It rocked! I got to enjoy a beautiful day with my beautiful daughter (I still pinch myself when I say that). I was handed a warm, swaddled bundle of joy Sunday morning with a little ribbon tied around her wrist. Tied to the ribbon was a beautiful aquamarine ring with champagne diamonds on the sides, set in white gold. No, it's not the $1200 Le'Vian I was drooling over, but it is beautiful and perfect and very unexpected.

We enjoyed a wonderful day of church and a lunch with Abe & E. I tried to make the day as long as possible. I was dreading the next day...my first day back to school. I cried a lot that night and felt totally guilty as I was preparing her bottles for the next day. It was really hard to put her to bed that night, knowing that I wouldn't be spending any more quality time with her the next day.

However, I was pleasantly proud of myself when I managed not to cry the next morning. She was in a great mood and was very calm. She was asleep by the time I left, and knowing that my dad was going to be watching her and loving on her helped. I wrote out detailed instructions and called home to check in, but she did great.

At school, my colleagues and students were very happy to see me. I got a lot of hugs and even some flowers on my desk from the staff. I have now been back for two days, and I am finally starting to get my room back the way I want it and sort through all of the projects/assignments the kids are in the middle of. I have to say that it is hard to come back after being gone 8 weeks. I feel like I don't know what I am doing and am all disoriented. However, only 16 more school days and then I will have a fresh start next year. All in all, I am happy I chose to return, and I have had a lot of fun reconnecting with my kids.

I am looking to my left, and I have a sleeping nugget beside me in the crack of the couch cushion. She is two months old today. How is this possible? I don't understand! She is growing so quickly and changing so much. She pays attention to things and responds to our voices. She smiles and is starting to coo. Oh yeah, she slept 7 1/2 hours last night! Straight! No waking up! I checked her two times to see if she was breathing. It was great to be able to sleep through the night. I hope she keeps this up!

Let's see...what else can I throw into this treat bag of a blog post? Oh yes, the Shred. I haven't done it since Friday because I have been insanely busy. Really. And I don't want to spend a lot of my Noelle time on working on. However, I did Zumba yesterday and I ran 2.8 miles today on the treadmill. As of this morning, I am 4 lbs. lighter than I was 12 days ago. I am going in the right direction, and I at least have one pair of pants I can wear to school. Hopefully the kids don't slice and dice me at lunch when they realize I am wearing the same pants all 5 days a week.

Well, like all other working moms, I am counting down the days to the weekend and just truckin' along. I am adjusting to this new lifestyle and very happy that it has been a smooth transition so far.

That's all I've got for now.

30 Day Shred - Day 15

Before Noelle's 2 month (TWO MONTHS!!!!) doctor's appointment today, I took advantage of her snoozing in her swing and did the Shred. I didn't do anything yesterday because I spent a day getting beautified (hair color, cut, eyebrow wax, and facial). There was no time to work out in between all of that strenuous beautifying.

So...in a nutshell...I am halfway through the Shred. Level 2 is kicking my butt...I don't know when I will be venturing into Level 3 territory. Stay tuned.

30 Day Shred - Day 14

I took yesterday off, but in my "off time" I did manage to go to the gym and run for 20 minutes straight on the treadmill! I bought one of those nifty Nike Plus things that go in your shoes (in my new Livestrong Nikes!) to calculate your distance, pace, calories, etc. It was pretty cool and motivating to see that I did 2.71 miles total (including my 5 min. warm up and cool down) and all in all at under an 11 min. pace as an average. When I was running, it said I was at an under 9 min. pace. This is good for me...considering "speedy" was never an adjective anyone used to describe me.

But, I put Noelle in her bouncy chair and managed to simultaneously complete day 14 of the Shred AND win Mother of the Year because I did in fact hear (yes, hear) Noelle have a blowout, but did I stop the DVD to change her? No. I was on the last circuit and thought that surely 2 more minutes wouldn't kill her. I know. Report me to CPS immediately.

On that note (the note of poop), Noelle's bowels have been moving quite nicely this week. In fact, since Saturday, I think she has had 3 massive poopy blowouts! Yay for her! I think this is one of those times when they say, "You know you're a mom when....you celebrate your kid's disgusting poops!"

Two cheers for busting a move and busting a diaper!

30 Day Shred - Day 13

The wagon was almost broken down and my lumpy behind was half-hanging off of it, but I did climb back on and got it going again. Yes, I completed my 13th day of the Shred. I was simply too sore after jogging on Saturday to do the Shred over the weekend. I was proud of myself for having the strength to turn on the DVD and do the workout today. I have Zumba tonight as well, so today is a big victory in the workout department.

Also a victory is the fact that I have lost 2.5 lbs this week! Finally, the scale is moving in the right direction!!! Only about 37.5 lbs to go...HA!

30 Day Shred - Day 11 & 12

Perhaps you thought I quit on the Shred? Nope. Not this girl (points to self). I did manage to squeeze it in yesterday, which happened to be the first day of Level 2. Holy Sweat...it was hard! I had forgotten how hard Level 2 was. I have done Level 3 in my past life (back when I had a semi-nice body), and I don't think Level 3 is as hard as Level 2. Anyway, I did it. Praise the Lord!

I also managed to do the Shred today...but it took three different times of turning the DVD on, then hitting pause because Noelle needed me. You see, she is on day 7 of no pooping (read my prior post about her poop habits). I think we will have a...breakthrough...tonight, but she is quite uncomfortable. She has needed her momma to hold her and love her today even more so than usual. However, she has been sleeping for a bit and allowed me to get my workout in. Thanks, Noelle!

If this 30 Day Shred doesn't work for me after all the effort I have been giving, I am going to personally hunt Jillian Michaels down and shred her.

30 Day Shred - Day 10

I am 1/3 of the way there! I plan to step up to Level 2 tomorrow.

Still no budge on the scales. Disappointing. However, I am hoping my body decides to give birth to Noelle's 15 lb twin soon.

In other healthy news, I bought a rice cooker/steamer last night. We used it for dinner already. It was awesome! I steamed brown rice in the bottom and then broccoli on top. They came out perfectly! I always cook rice horribly when I do it on the stove. It is always too watery. This came out perfect...almost like the sticky rice at Asian restaurants. I also had chicken tortellini. Too bad Luke took the leftovers with him today...

30 Day Shred - Day 9

If you're asking if I did the Shred today, I will just tell you the answer is YES!

I feel stronger already. I think I will step it up to Level 2 on Day 11. I haven't missed a day since almost a week ago, which is an accomplishment given how hard it can be to find time for myself in a day, even if it's only 20 minutes.

Almost 1/3 of the way done!

30 Day Shred - Day 8

The title speaks for itself. I know these posts are pointless, but it kind of holds me accountable to actually doing the Shred. I made myself do it during Noelle's nap this morning. It's amazing how good you feel when you get done working out. Sadly, I won't be able to make it to Zumba because I will be meeting friends for dinner (a good reason to miss). I at least wanted to get this workout in today. Maybe I will take Noelle for a walk in her stroller if it doesn't rain on us.

22 more days to go!

30 Day Shred - Day 7

I was very tired and did NOT want to lift my butt off the couch after the birthday party for Luke, but I knew I would feel better afterwards if I did the Shred. So, Shred I did. I grunted it out until the bitter end, and I DID feel a lot better. It made the huge helping of Blue Bell's Cake & Ice Cream ice cream seem not so bad.

Go me.

30 Day Shred - Day 6

Oh yes. Six days of the Shred. I am very happy that I found the motivation to do this today. I will be leaving here shortly to go to a 2 hour Zumba class to raise money for Autism! My body isn't going to know what to do with itself.

Praying for some results soon!

30 Day Shred - Day 5

Another day of Shreddin' down...only 25 more to go! :-)

Actually, today's workout was great. I didn't feel as tired. I felt stronger. I can already notice an improvement in my muscles. I know that the external improvements (i.e. 4 months pregnant-looking belly is gone) will be right around the corner. Noelle slept like an angel while I had my date with Jillian.

It is amazing how inspiring exercise is!

30 Day Shred - Day 4

Yes, I took another day off from Shreddin' yesterday. However, I did make it to Zumba, even though Luke and I had to exchange Noelle in the parking lot of Lifestyle Family Fitness. It's hard when you don't have someone you can call who can be there in 5 minutes to watch your kid until the next parent gets home. Oh well. We are figuring out a way to make it all work.

Anyway, Noelle sat in her bouncy seat and half-snoozed/half-played while I had my date with Jillian Michaels. I am starting to get frustrated. I am an instant gratification kind of person, and I guess I am not seeing results as quickly as I would like. I would really like to get jogging again, but I am not comfortable taking Noelle in the jogging stroller yet (if I actually jog) because her head might bounce around (because I run at lightning speed, you know). I never really have time to do it at the gym because I get there right before Zumba and usually have to get right home after. Too bad our damn piece of junk treadmill crapped out in January. That would really help. Oh well. Someday when we are rich (haha, riiiiight), maybe we can buy something NOT from Craigslist.

At this rate, the Shred is becoming more like a 60 Day Shred, but oh well.

Oh well.

30 Day Shred - Day 3

OK, OK, I know. I said I was going to do the Shred for 30 consecutive days. All I have to say about that is...Jillian Michaels must not be a mom. It has been impossible to find the time to do the Shred since Thursday. Friday, I was running around getting things packed to head to New Albany. Saturday and Sunday we were in New Albany and traveling home. Yesterday, Noelle was quite needy and wanting to be held most of the day. I couldn't put her down. I did manage to go to Zumba, so it was not a wasted day of fitness. Today, however, I have jumped back on the wagon.

I have completed 3 days of the Shred. I am trying not to weigh myself every day like I used to, but it is habit. I have set some small goals for myself, knowing that saying "Lost 40 lbs"-- which would be my ultimate end goal-- is too vague. I have set four 10 lb. goals...so we will see where that gets me. I know 90% of it is food, and that kills me, because I love food! I DID discover about 15 frozen bags of veggies in the freezer, so maybe if we attempted to make a dent in those, that would be a step in the right direction. Grrr...

Anyway-- 'nuff said. Day 3 of the Shred is done. (pats self on back)

30 Day Shred - Day 2

Well, I just completed Day 2 of the Shred. I was definitely a little tired and sluggish today. I just kept telling myself it's only 20 minutes, and it really does work because it has worked for me before. I had one eye on Noelle who was sleeping the entire time. Now, as I sat down to type this, she has started to wail, so I need to get going. Just want to say that it feels good to do something healthy and good for me.

30 Day Shred - Day 1

Well, it's been a month since Noelle was born, and I lost a quick 20-25 lbs the first week. Now I have stalled out, and I need to get my butt in gear. I am running out of clothes that fit me (my maternity clothes are already in a plastic tub in the attic), and I return to work in 4 weeks. I will have to have something to wear. So, in a nutshell...

I am starting Jillian Michaels's 30 Day Shred (again). It's a great workout, so I am hoping it helps. I am going to make every attempt to do it for the 30 consecutive days.

Here goes nothing!

UPDATE: Well, I finished the first day! It only took twice as long because I had to stop to either a) feed Noelle, b) comfort Noelle, or c) put a pacifier in Noelle's mouth. However, she eventually conked out and allowed me to get the workout in. I feel very accomplished. It's amazing how my life has changed because of this little girl. I find myself rushing to multitask a thousand different things while she is asleep. For instance, while the workout DVD was setting up, I was making her a bottle and doing the dishes. Perhaps you might be thinking, "Ashley, you would have more time to do things if you would stop blogging and actually get to work." Touche, my friend.