Kerstin's Blog

That’s me, the queen of multi-tasking.  Ive got Georgia in the Baby K’Tan and Grace is being fed in her Bumbo seat.  I get a bit of a thrill out of being able to do 25 things at once.  I like to have both babies hanging off of me and be cleaning the house and blogging at the same time.  Danny, not so much.  He is more of a one thing at a time guy.  He is such a great jungle gym for Grace and he is amazing taking care of the girls. He doesn’t get caught up in making sure everything is picked up and in place, he just hangs with the babies and gives them his full attention.  He is amazing. But, I know if I come home from a full day of work and the house is a disaster and my first born is still in her P.J’s I will not be a happy mom.

So, we have spent the last week or so trying to find a “Daddy’s Helper.”  Were bringing someone in for a few hours each day to be extra hands.  Dan is now working from  home full time and traveling a bit, so this new addition to our family will let Dan get some work done and hopefully help keep the girls happy AND get the house picked up as well.  This will prevent me from loosing my mind when I get home, and as they say…”a happy wife is a happy life.”

Dan and I got to have a date night last week and I really wanted to do something different then our usual dinner and movie.  What I really wanted to do was go somewhere and sleep but that wasn’t really an option so I spent some time looking for a couples massage or something relaxing like that.  Massages were so expensive but in my Google search I came across Happy Buddah Foot Reflexology.  It looked very relaxing and it was relatively cheap, plus I figured, that way, we could still talk on our date.  It was AMAZING!  All the reviews in Yelp are right.  It was one of the most relaxing, energizing things I have ever had done.  Plus it was a fun adventure with my husband.  When we drove up it looked kind of shady, funny musak was playing, there was a big screen TV with Animal Planet from 1992 with Chinese sub titles.  Yet, despite the funny surroundings, It was honestly one of the best dates ever.  I will admit, I did miss my baby girls.  It is so hard to be away from them, but it is so important to give my other “baby,” my husband, the attention and love he needs and deserves.  Its so easy  to forget about your relationship when you are building new relationships with babies.

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Georgia is now smiling all the time. She is such a happy baby!  I on the other hand have been wincing a bit more…I started hitting the gym hard at the six week mark. I upped my running to about 5 miles a day, im back to doing hard yoga, and I have been pushing the girls in the Bob up every hill I can find.  But, with 20 pounds still to loose its time to bump it up a notch.

I still can’t believe with all the exercise and eating smart I did while pregnant, that I gained 55 pounds!  It just isn’t fair.  I should have been eating bon bon’s and sitting on the couch if that was what was going to happen. The 1st 30 fell off in 3 weeks but the last 4 weeks it has been slow going.

I used to teach yoga and spinning at 24 hour fitness so I figured Id get back to the gym and also take some major calorie burning spin classes.  I will admit I am a spinning snob so my first class wasn’t too great. The teacher just didn’t push hard enough.  But, I’ll be back for more. For Christmas I told my hubby to get me the best deal on the planet….2 years for 300 dollars at 24 hour fitness.  It is a joint program with Costco.  Thats $12.50 a month with no initiation fee. What a steal!  I also got him to get me the Costco personal training deal, which I think was 75 bucks for three, one hour sessions.  By the way you can find all these on costco.com if you are looking for a gym membership.

http://tinyurl.com/y9×2uc8

I started my personal training and had her really kick my butt.  I need a few 1 hour or less circuit routines that get in my cardio and strength training.  I really need to work out, and I honestly want to, but I know after I go back to work it is going to be so hard to spend another minute away from the girls after I get home each day.  By the way, this is me back at work at the auto show last month.  I really was having fun, honest

I have 11 pregnant friends right now so I am still very much in pregnancy mode.  My trainer actually did her thesis on exercise during pregnancy and she said women who do cardio while pregnant have longer leaner babies.  SOOO true!  Even though I gained a ton, Georgia came out so long and lean. We all cant stop commenting on how tall and thin she looks. Although, that baby is now an eating machine and she is sure getting an adorable little belly.

Because she and her sister are eating so much, directly from me, I am not being crazy about my diet. I have had to cut out dairy (oh, how I miss cheese) because it upsets them, and I am not eating any junk, but other than that I am not really cutting much out.  I am as hungry as I was when I am pregnant, which I hear is normal given all the breast feeding.  Im trying to do portion control and really cut out sugar and alcohol, not that I can drink more than a glass or 2 a week while breast feeding.  I will say that late at night is a hard time for me. I want carbs and chocolate…not good.

Next week I have to pull the trigger and get new work clothes before my big return the 1st week in February.  I figure I will still have a good 15 lbs to loose when I go back  so there is no squeezing into my old size 4 suits!  Im trying to look at it as a happy event, since shopping is fun, but I hate buying clothes that I am determined to grow out of in a a couple months. I know many of you have seen me at the gym or around town (thanks for saying hi, I love to meet you!) and I am mortified that I have been in my sloppy mommy clothes…

but, like I said, I just don’t want to buy anything new while I am not at a size I tend to stay at.  I did wear the Belly Bandit the 1st 6 weeks and that really helped.

http://www.bellybandit.com/

It was originally suggested to give me support after the C-Section, but it had a great side effect of helping slim my tummy down as well.

My hubby has been real sweet, he says I look great and he loves my curves.  I am not as neurotic about it as I thought I would be.  I know the weight will come off eventually.  Even if its not as quick as I like, I don’t want to miss this time while the girls are small.  I can always go to the gym or run, I wont always have two infants.  Speaking of which, I told Dan that I would have another one, something I said I would never do!  He was not amused…

…though Georgia looks like she is.  I don’t really want to be pregnant again, but I LOVE the baby stage.  They are just so wonderful, and I would do it again just to have another baby in the house one day. That being said, I wont.  As much as I would like a big family, I really want to stay somewhat mobile with these  girls. I truly do want to go traveling with them before they get too old, and I don’t think we would have the means or the energy to do that with a  third.  I’m just doing my best to enjoy every moment with them now and savor this miracle.  It was just one year ago this month that we found out Grace was on the way.  Before that we didn’t know if we would ever have children.  What a difference a year makes.  For those of you I have been talking to that are struggling to get pregnant or adopt, have faith.  Cry when you need to, yell, stomp your feet but don’t give up. I know it’s so hard, but that’s why its is called…faith.

Keep those comments and suggestions coming…

Dont forget to watch February 4th!  I’ll be back on the air that week!

A reader says they found the little necklace that Grace loves at the Sharp Mary Birch hospital store – New Beginnings.  Everyone we have had around us for any length of time has been sold on the necklace as well.  I am actually going to get my husband one of the round white and black ones (above)  so its a bit more masculine.  Our friend, and daddy to be – Ed, had to endure wearing the heart for a time since Gracie couldn’t bare to be without it.  Ahhh fatherhood

Such an amazing warm summer like day. This was Georgia’s first day lounging on the deck. She fell asleep instantly, just like her mommy does…and her aunt Beth (you can see her in the background.)

Beth happens to be one of my 11 pregnant friends and family members. This all took place before this crazy winter weather hit!  Stay warm and dry out there, sorry Im not back on the air giving you the forecast.

Im trying to have as much quality time as possible with the girls before I go back to work in two weeks.  Im excited to be back at ABC 10 but I am dreading leaving these angels.  Being a stay at home parent is such an blessing. To all of you out there who do it, I pray you know how lucky you are.

Grace has been really into the dogs lately.  She was lounging with them the other morning. Im so happy the girls are adjusting to the dogs and vice versa.

Georgia had something Grace didn’t have one bit.  Baby acne.  It has been so bad! The poor little thing looks like the before picture in a Proactive commercial. I know it bugs us more than her, but its so sad.  Our beautiful porcelain baby’s face is all flaky and red

Good thing we got her professional pictures before she broke out. She broke out around Christmas and it just cleared up 3 weeks later.

The doctor said we could put some Aquaphor on the dry spots and that helped.  It was just so sad.  Its nice to have our babies pretty face back.  We can actually now see how fair she really is.  It’s funny because Grace has such gorgeous light brown skin, so we aren’t used to such a pale baby. We always thought we were much darker, but boy were we wrong!

  Thanks for all your posts and suggestions.  Also thanks to all of you who have come up and said hi when you see us out and about.  I LOVE meeting all you other moms, dad, moms to be and just plain happy San Diegans! Don’t forget to tune in Thursday February 4th.  I’ll be back on the air that week!

We packed up both babies and both furry friends and headed up to Big Bear for a few days.  The dogs LOVE the snow and we thought it would be fun to hike around with the girls.

Were slowly learning how to pack light with such a large family.  We don’t have an suv and aren’t planning on getting a mini-van so it all has to fit in our wagon. We’ve always been a less is more family, and I get a rush out of simplifying, but it is a bit more difficult with two little ones AND  two spoiled dogs.

We left the Bob stroller at home and broke out our new baby backpacks.  Georgia is still to small, but Grace loved her rides on daddy’s back.  

We kept the girls bundled up.  Georgia in her hand me down sack.

And Grace in her stylish faux pink fur! She likes her hat and daddy’s hair

Most of the time Georgia was in her Baby K’tan sling where she went into hybernation mode as soon as we went outside.  She is just so comfy. Seven weeks old and she is still trying to get back in the womb.  This is how I carry her every night from 4-8pm. It is the one thing that keeps her calm.

The only drawback with the baby back pack is that Grace has a hard time falling asleep in it.  She has no place to lay her head, poor baby.

Our Attempt to Go To Dinner

I’ll start by saying I never get to actually enjoy the amazing meals my hubby cooks most nights.  Im always standing, swinging or bouncing one of the babies.  I only have one free hand, and if Grace is in the other I have the added obstacle of keeping my fork out of her hands. Now put all of that in a restaurant!  We went out to a very early dinner in Big Bear and we honestly had to take turns eating.  Neither girl was very happy and we had to keep taking Georgia outside to swing her in her car seat.

I can’t wait to get a night out where I can sit and eat with both hands!  Our next trip is a bit further away. We’re going to Vegas to visit Georgia’s God parents.  Then its back to work the 1st week in February. Im not dreading getting back to work, but I am dreading leaving these little miracles.  It’s amazing how much I love the chaos.  This is by far the best time of my life.

This is my new favorite baby item. I found it at a boutique in Big Bear. Grace has very busy hands and can’t stop looking around and grabbing everything in sight.  She even does this while breast feeding which can be very painful.  This necklace/teething toy solves the problem.  She LOVES it.  It keeps her attention when she’s eating and she puts it in her mouth instead of my blouse/jewelry/purse when i’m carrying her around.  

http://www.heartstringcompanions.com/heartstring/

I should have bought a bunch for my 11, yes 11, friends that are now pregnant (seriously, what was it about 2009?) since the only place in California that its sold is in Big Bear.  

Part of the reason I went out with my yet-to-be husband 8 years ago was because he lived on a boat.  Yes, shallow, I know, but the fact that he lived ON the water and could sail, was a huge draw.  My dad is a sailor, and he taught me. I love being on a boat, in fact, Dan and I hope to one day take a year off and take the girls sailing full time…

So, when my dad said he had a friend who could take us out on New Years Eve I couldn’t imagine a better way to start 2010!

This was the girls first trip on a boat. If you remember, Grace was 8 days old when she first went to the beach, but Georgia was born in the cold months and didnt get to spend her fist weeks at waters edge.  So, this was pretty exciting for all of us. 

We went out and got the babes life vests, Georgia was not a fan but Grace didn’t seem to mind.

It was a gorgeous day and within about a half hour both babies were asleep.  

They seemed to love boating as much as we do.  I hope that sailing into the new year is a good sign that maybe 2010 will bring us many more days on the water.