January 7, 2010

  • Vacation Yoga

     On my first day of vacation in San Diego in late October, we awoke to a thick blanket of fog.  We grabbed some exceptionally good coffee and a bacon breakfast sandwich (it was vacation after all) and hopped into our rented PT Cruiser and headed North to La Jolla.  The fog in La Jolla was even worse, we pulled into a parking spot right on the beach and couldn’t see a thing.  The only reason we knew we were at the beach was that there was a sign indicating as much.

    It was about 8:30 am, and we had no idea what to do so Jonathan decided to go for a run.  I thought “wouldn’t it be perfect if I could find a yoga class!” so I started to do a GPS search on Jonathan’s phone to see if I could find a yoga studio.  No luck.  I’m not all that handy with GPS technology.  As I was hitting teeny tiny buttons and getting more and more frustrated by the fog and how much my vacation was sucking, I looked up to see two women with yoga mats walk right by me.  I was too stunned to speak, so luckily my husband flagged them down.  After they got over their fear that we were going to kidnap or mug them, they were nice enough to tell me that a free community class was going to start in the park at 9:00.  “Where is this park?” I asked, concerned I wouldn’t be able to find it with aforementioned GPS.  “Right there” they pointed.   It was about 15 feet away.

    I ran to the public bathroom and threw on my yoga clothes which I had luckily thrown into the back of the rent-a-car on a whim.  I wandered back to the park and was trying to come to peace with the idea of practicing in the dewy grass, when I noticed a big pile of free mats.  Next to the free mats, two men were setting up an amazing amount of percussion instruments.

    I spoke to the woman who appeared to be in charge and she informed me that this was a free class to celebrate the eight-year anniversary of the Prana Yoga studio in La Jolla (www.prana-yoga.com) and the one-year anniversary of the downtown La Jolla LuLu Lemon store. 

    The class was taught by Gerhard Gessner, E-RYT who owns Prana Yoga.  He explained that it would be a Power Flow class.  As I sat on the mat, smelling the ocean and people watching all these West Coast yogis I started to get really excited to experience a different kind of yoga class.  I’ve only ever practiced at Dover Yoga, so I was eager to experience something new.

    Gerhard was a great teacher.  He had a strong voice and I liked his pace as he led us through the flows.  I liked how he speckled the class with humor (in side plank “lift your left hand off your mat, ok now lift your right hand….haha just kidding”).  One thing he didn’t include was a lot of “fluff” as Carrie would call it.  His directions were all physical and anatomical.  However, he was struggling against the crashing waves and ambient park noise to probably about 50-75 people in a semi-circle around him.

    The class was pretty strenuous, but right up my alley.  I loved the challenges and the flows that Gerhard chose.  Tons of sun salutations (my favorite!) and he even joked “Keep going, keep going!  It’s working, the sun is coming out!”.  The thing that really surprised me was its similarity to Flow classes I’ve taken at Dover Yoga.  Halfway through the class it hit me, yoga is yoga.  It’s 5,000 years old – it’s not going to change from coast to coast.

    So as the sun broke through the clouds and burned off all the fog, I was forced to close my super sensitive eyes and go inward.  I was totally present in the moment – smelling the ocean, feeling the sun on my skin, smelling the grass, smiling at my good fortune of stumbling upon this class, listening to the soft sounds of the drums playing nearby, feeling the sweet release as my muscles stretched and worked and my body released the stress of a cross-country flight and jetlag.  I was on vacation.  In California.  Doing Yoga. Outside.  Breathing.  Life is Good.

  • The science behind my decision to stay home with my kids

    Five years ago, right before I gave birth to my daughter, I had the full intention of going back to work after my 12 weeks of maternity leave. 

    Then she was born, and I couldn’t go to the bathroom in the hospital without wheeling her crib thingy into the bathroom with me.  Those first twelve weeks passed in a blur or sleeplessness, total fear, depression, anxiety, and lots of bodily fluids flying around.  Layered beneath, and perhaps fueling all these feelings, was this gargantuan love that I felt for this teeny weeny, helpless baby.  I couldn’t even really go there and try to measure the love.  It was too scary.  And when I thought about going back to work, I couldn’t really go there either.  It gave me such a sick feeling in my stomach, made the back of my neck sweat.  It was like a primal response.  There was NO WAY I could leave this baby in someone else’s care.  Life at home was weird and scary and hard, but I would choose that any day over the pain of leaving her.

    But what about my ideals?  I went to college!  I had a career!  I finally had a job I really liked.   I wasn’t going to give all that up for a mere baby.  How boring.  How 1957.

    Right before the 12 week mark and my pending return to work, we flew to Florida to visit my husband’s parents.  On the way home, the panic started to really set in about returning to work.  If you’ve ever walked through an airport with a newborn,  you know how every woman you pass has to stop and oogle at the baby. 

    Here’s my chance I thought – I’ll take a survey of all these moms.

    “So, I’m trying to decide – did you go back to work or stay home with your kids?”

     The response was amazing.  Every woman I asked was so willing to talk to me about it.  All the women who had returned to work said things like,

    “It’s really hard, but you can do it.”

    “It stinks, but you’ll make it through.”

    “You’ll feel guilty, but eventually it will get better.  It’s fine.”

    The women who had chosen to stay home said things like,

    “It was the best decision I ever made.”

    “I don’t regret it.”

    “They were the best years of my life.”

    Everyone is different and has different needs, but for me, this little science experiment in the airport sealed my decision (I think I had already made up my mind anyway).  I quit my job the next day . It was the best decision I ever made.  I don’t regret it.  

    What did you go through in deciding to go back to work or not?

January 6, 2010

  • My must-have product for nursing

    I nursed all three of my kids for about one year each and the one product that I would highly recommend to other nursing mommas is Breast Shells.

    Basically, it creates an air pocket for your nipple which allows them to heal a bit faster since they are not just hanging around in a damp nursing pad in between each feeding.

    Also, the pressure from the shell can help alleviate engorgement.  I admit to even sterilizing the shells and collecting the milk that leaked out and freezing it! 

    Does anyone else have any must-have products for nursing moms?

May 29, 2009

  • I’m a mediocre-ist

    Today is the day I’m officially declaring myself a mediocre-ist. I’m starting to realize that for some reason, I’ve befriended a lot of perfectionists throughout my life.  Not sure if I’m drawn to them because they fascinate me or if there are just simply a lot of them.

    Anyway, after a lot of soul searching I’ve figured out that I am not one of them!  I strive for mediocrity.  My motto is, “That’s good enough”.  When my perfectionist friends have conversations about cleaning their banisters with toothbrushes, I will no longer wonder why I don’t have the desire to do the same.  When my perfectionist friends point out that all my picture frames are slightly crooked, I will no longer wonder why I didn’t take the time to use a level when hanging baby pictures. 

    I will just simply shrug and say, “Eh, whatever…I’m a mediocre-ist!”

May 15, 2009

  • Seven dollars

    So, I’m in Wal-mart the other day buying all the necessities to keep the kids and house running. You know – diapers, wipes, toothpaste, etc.

    Then I find myself in the aisle of razors.  I usually just buy the bag of 100 disposable razors for myself.  However, the fancy schmancy $7 Venus Gillette razor caught my eye.  I had it in my hand, but then I was like “Wait a minute – $7 for ONE razor??!??”  No way.

    I put it back on the shelf.  (Please keep in mind that I could shave my legs twice a day and still feel stubble.)

    I kept pushing my cart along and looked down at the contents.  It was full to the top with stuff for my kids and husband.   What is it that clicks over in you once you have kids that makes it IMPOSSIBLE to spend money on yourself? 

    I mean seriously, before kids I’d go out with friends and spend $7 on myself every 20 minutes when I ordered another mircrobrew. 

    How did this happen?

    To make a long story short, I bought myself the razor.  Every time I shave I get a feeling akin to being pampered at a spa.  Not that I know what that feels like – I’d never spend the money on myself to go!

     

April 30, 2009

  • Just Be

    I’ve been going to Yoga for about 5 or 6 years now and I absolutely LOVE it.  I love stretching all my muscles and getting all the weird kinks out of my body that build up from lugging 3 kids around.  I love the feeling of peace and ease that comes over my body at the end of an hour long class. 

    I realized just now, that the one part of Yoga I’m not so good at is the same thing I struggle with in my day to day life.  I call it the “Just Be” part. 

    When you first sit down for a yoga class, the teacher instructs you to focus on your breathing, focus on the moment, don’t let any thoughts or stress from your day enter your mind, just be, focus on your breathing and sit still for a few minutes.  I try really hard, but I’m always secretly thinking “come on, let’s get the show on the road and start moving here”.  I’m anxious for the class to get going so that it will be over and I can have that feeling of relaxation.  I realize that this is the complete opposite of the purpose of Yoga.

    However, I’m the same way with my kids and life.  I catch myself wishing that they’ll “just outgrow this annoying phase” or daydream about the years ahead when they are all in school and I have some free time to myself.  Or I’m rushing the day along to get to naptime so I can get some household chores done. 

    I’m trying to start focusing on each moment and enjoying the fact that I have a 5 year old, a 3 year old and a 9 month old . Because I’ll never get this day again to Just Be.

    Does anyone else struggle with this?

April 1, 2009

March 27, 2009

  • Hotmama in a Hotsling

    I’ve been noticing a lot lately about the popularity of “baby-wearing”.  With my first two kids, I was not that into the idea.  I did have a Baby Bjorn, but only used it when absolutely necessary (like a public place that didn’t allow strollers) because it hurt my shoulders and neck.

    I see moms around town with their little newborns snuggled so happily in these crazy contraptions of slings, and they both look so happy.  It’s seemed womb-like.  So, I decided to try it.

    I got a baby sling from www.hotslings.com and I was very impressed before I even fully pulled it out of the box.  The fabric is gorgeous and you can instantly tell that it is extremely well crafted.  

     

    La Vie en Rose

     

    I picked the La Vie en Rose pattern (shown here) and I have to honestly say that one of my favorite things about the sling is how GOOD I look in it.  I’m a jeans and t-shirt kind of a girl – always have been.  But seriously, I throw my supercute baby into this super hip hotsling over my worn out jeans and spitup encrusted t-shirt and I’m instantly transformed into a ROCKIN’ HIP MAMA.  I get lots of compliments everywhere I go.

    An added bonus is that baby Joel (7 months old) loves it!  Granted he’s the third child and squeals with delight anytime anyone even looks at him, but he does really love being attached-the-hip (LITERALLY!) to his mommy. 

    The only thing I don’t like about the hotsling is that it does start to hurt my hip/lower back after a while.  However, this may be a problem with my body and not a hotsling in general.  I’ve had 3 c-sections in the past 5 years, so I have a weak abdomen/core/lower back.  Maybe if I was stronger this wouldn’t be an issue?  Also, with the side hold (shown below) your one arm is not fully functional because the sling is over your shoulder and kind of restricts movement a bit.  For instance, you couldn’t really wash dishes with your kid in the sling.  It is way better though than carrying your baby in your arms. 

    Everyday

    I’d definitely recommend a hotsling to anyone interested in baby-wearing!

March 10, 2009

  • Update on my sleep deprivation status

    I went to the dentist today.  As I turned the corner into the room and saw that big chair reserved just for me – I got excited!  I slid in and just enjoyed being horizontal for 40 minutes, even with some lady chattering non-stop and scraping my teeth with really sharp tools.

March 9, 2009

  • Sleep, glorious sleep.

    I am OBSESSED with sleep.  It occupies my every waking thought.  Every single thing I do throughout the day, I do with sleep in mind.  Or rather, how it will help me get more sleep. 

    We’ve all been battling a stomach bug which made for a few sleepless nights, plus my husband has been out of town off and on for several weeks so I’m the only one on middle-of-the-night duty, plus plus I have 3 kids under 5 years.  One of those kids still loves to nurse several times a night.  In short – I’m severely sleep deprived.

    When I hear one of the kids cry out in the night, my immediate thought is (strangely) of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.  My mind starts rambling and imagining that they must have several nighttime nannies…how much does that cost?…what could I sell so that I could hire one?…does that nighttime nanny just sit there waiting for someone to wake up? or does she sleep until they do?…does she also cook breakfast and get the kids dressed so that Angie and Brad can sleep in or are her duties strictly night related?  Once I figure out the logistics, as I go through the motions of changing a diaper or nursing or getting a glass of water or picking up whoever fell out of bed, I just fantasize about this fabulous nighttime nanny.  And feel sorry for myself that I don’t have one.

    Then, during the day, every action is geared toward getting more sleep.  We have huge snowbanks, but that doesn’t stop me from organizing “running races” for my two oldest kids in the driveway.  They love it, and I watch with a smile urging them to run faster in the hopes that they will magically both fall asleep for a nap at the same time as the baby so that I can snooze too.  (this doesn’t happen much, but I work at it EVERY DAY)

    My body is running on adrenalin and my mind is constantly racing…who can come over and babysit so I can nap?  who can I call and invite my kid over to their house for a playdate?  how many games can I invent that involve me lying down?

    Is anyone else this obsessed with sleep?