This morning, I awoke with the thought of instead of journaling first thing, I should just open up a blog post and write. See what comes up. I have felt this intense pull towards productivity and creativity, but with a newborn (she is just over one month old!), I have to be patient and give myself some grace. I know so many women with newborns who haven’t changed out of their pajamas, and here I am wanting to get back to “work.” This is my habit – it happened with Mason as well – so I notice it, soften, and return to bonding with my baby. But if I want to keep developing my blog and brand, I will have to carve out time to do so. Without applying too much pressure to myself, perhaps first thing in the morning before anyone else is awake is my time to write. And if it doesn’t happen, that is okay too (self-compassion at its finest, folks).
As mentioned above, my baby girl is one month old today! What a wonderful whirlwind the past thirty days have been. This postpartum experience has been night and day different from my first – so much smoother with less stress. I will write a separate blog post about that, but in a nutshell: physically, I healed so much faster. Mentally and emotionally, I am enjoying the newborn phase so much more this time around. Breastfeeding is easier, I am less stressed because I have better established boundaries, and I have really given myself permission to be present. It can be a lonely time (see below), so I have been trying to reach out to friends and connect. Connecting with others is also another way I feel Healthified from where I am. I have already told myself that 2025 is going to be my year of “yes.” More information on that to come.
I had a little bit of a sore throat this morning, so I blended Manuka honey in my frothy coffee. After learning so much about it’s amazing benefits, I firmly believe Manuka honey should be in all of our medicine cabinets.
I think I now have my signature drink. The other night I got the biggest craving for a skinny margarita. I love tequila, and typically make a cocktail with tequila, peach Waterloo, and lime juice. It does the trick, but I wanted the real deal. So while I was breastfeeding the other day, I started to watch YouTube videos on how to make a real skinny margarita, and I am happy to report I have created a pretty delicious cocktail. Peach Waterloo still makes an appearance. Recipe post for this drink coming soon.
Navigating the newborn phase with a toddler is a feat. He is in school all mornings, five days a week, so thank goodness for that, but sometimes I am at a loss on how to fill the afternoon hours. A couple of times, we have had a playdate on the school’s playground right after pick-up, which works out nicely. The other day, I took him there solo, and there were two other moms with their kids doing the same thing. We got to talking and the hour passed by effortlessly. I left with a newfound sense of energy. It is just so nice to connect with other moms, even it happens by chance. Just that hour of socialization did wonders for my sense of self-care.
I am still loving my Skinny Confidential ice roller in the mornings. I have had other ice rollers in the past, and this brand is by far the best.
I shared on my Instagram yesterday that at one month postpartum, I am officially back in my pre-pregnancy jeans. I only shared because I wish someone had shared the secret sauce to an improved pregnancy experience with me when I went through it the first time. Strength training, a macro-balanced approach to nutrition, and chiropractic care were game changers during pregnancy number two. I tracked macros, ensured I was eating enough, prioritized protein and fiber while reducing fat (I have a history of overeating fat). In addition to a separate blog post, I will probably record a podcast episode on this topic. In the meantime, I have a great podcast episode with Flexible Dieting Coach, Erik Young that talks more about this (I was not yet pregnant when we recorded our episode).
I am trying to get better at meal planning and prep, primarily for dinner. I typically eat the same thing every day up until dinner, and the final meal of the day is where I like to switch things up. I really want to try Gracie Norton’s beef bowl. The combination of ground beef, pineapple, avocado, cheese, and honey may sound weird to some, but I love a salty-sweet flavor profile, and I think it sounds delicious. Another planning and prep strategy I want to implement is a cookbook challenge. After moving our bookshelf downstairs, I realized how many cookbooks I have acquired over the years, and how little I actually cook from them. So my goal is to try a new recipe a week. With the internet, it’s so easy to look a recipe up online, but there is something fun about cooking from a cookbook.
What are some random wellness thoughts on your brain? Please share!
