My Thoughts in This Moment

You are my heart. I dread the day when you will no longer need me to feed you, the day when you will no longer eat out of a bottle, the day when you will no longer be small enough to eat in my arms. Stay. Small. Always.  

Mom Friends

I walked into the room. The room full of women who were once my single, engaged, or newlywed friends. The room full of women who could once boogie down until the sun came up, but who can't anymore. The room full of amazing women who, either before or after me, have felt the excitement of two pink lines, the fun and pain of pregnancy, and the joy of welcoming a new member to their herd. The room full of women who were once my girl friends and are now my Mom Friends. We were all the same women, but somehow changed, grown, and looking at the world through very different glasses.

That time when some of us were preggy, some had babes, and some had fur babes!

It's funny how I never felt like an adult until I had a baby. I had two degrees, two fur children, a career, and a husband - but I still felt like a kid. I felt like I should still be going to football games on Friday nights and scoring rides home from school. It wasn't until we brought Lucy home from the hospital that I really felt like a grown up. I think its because that was the first time I realized that I am responsible for caring for and nurturing this tiny human. That responsibility weighed a lot and I needed support - especially since I had no idea what I was doing - and let's be honest, some days I still don't.

J is the best husband and father I could have ever imagined and he was my rock during those first days. But he had never felt the emotion and exhaustion of carrying a babe for nine months and then trying to heal from a c-section while keeping that babe alive. The support I needed could only come from those who've felt it, who've done it, and who've rocked it! I could not have made it through those first days, weeks, months without the love and support of my Mom Friends.

In the past seven months, I have asked these women some of the most scandalous questions and without batting an eye they not only answered them, but elaborated. We've had many an R rated conversation and many more G rated conversations. We have had conversations that no one, who hasn't had a child, could ever care about.

"What do I do with this kid between naps and feeding? What the heck do you do with HR all day?"

"What was it like when your water broke?"

"Lucy started rolling over but then she stopped completely, did HF go through this phase?"

"We're kind of army crawling, but I'm not sure what exercises to do with her - how did you teach MA to crawl?"

"When did OS start sleeping through the night?"

"How were the pups with LP when you brought her home?"

"Breastfeeding is not working for us. How did you stop with BD?"

"You're sure you don't want to keep EP's size 1 sandals? We'll gladly take them!"

These stunning women, we are all very different, we have different histories, difference experiences, and different parenting philosophies. But we all share one of the most important and special jobs -  we're mamas and that means we're closer in spirit and in heart than I ever could have dreamed.

Whoever said, "It takes a village..." had the right idea... though it may not take a village to raise a child - it definitely takes a village to keep mom sane. These women are there for me, from right across the street to hundreds of miles away. They are ready and willing to lend a hand or split a bottle of vino when I need it.

Over the next few months a number of my closest girl friends will become my Mom Friends and I can't wait to welcome them into this most special club. This club that I was extremely nervous to join, but now couldn't be happier to be a part. This club where I never feel judged, only encouraged. This club where I can share not only my failures, but my successes - and more importantly, Lucy's successes.

To these women, the women who've hugged me when I've had a tough mom day, who truly understand the definition of a mom fail, who've held my hand through a rough phase, who've cheered me on, who've given me advice and asked for mine in return - thank you.

Whole30...ish

The physical journey back to pre-preg weight and shape - it's just as hard as the mental.

As a general rule I'm a yoyo gym rat. I decide that I want to work out, I start a workout program, and then I stop. I've never gotten as far as having the urge to workout and feeling frustrated on the days I don't have the chance. And post babe me was no exception. I realized that if I was going to get the weight off and get back to my pre-preg self, my diet was the key. So last September, hubs got on board and we started the Whole30. It did exactly what I wanted. I dropped some LBs, I started rebuilding muscle, but most importantly - I started to feel healthier and I wanted to continue this healthier lifestyle.

In all honesty, our Whole30 days were not perfect. We stuck to Whole30 meals but didn't always use Whole30 approved ingredients (i.e. uncured but not Whole30 approved bacon). We only cooked with olive or coconut oil and entirely cut out alcohol, dairy, and grains. But we ate a lot of Larabars (they aren't totally encouraged on Whole30) and smoothies (also not so cheered about). So we'll call this diet Whole30ish.

I felt the need to share our experience because of how it made me feel and everything I learned. I learned to make a number of really tasty healthy dishes, I leaned that I have legit will power (anyone who's done Whole30 can attest to this), and I learned a lot about making healthy changes moving forward. Since September, we've stayed pretty close to the Whole30 lifestyle and are actually in the middle of another round of Whole30ish.  

Below I've mapped out our menu for brekky, lunch, dinner, and two square snacks a day. There are links attached to the recipe namesakes. We've updated a few recipes to make them easier to cook and more to our liking. In the coming weeks I will create a few foodie posts from our personalized and favorite Whole30ish meals!
 

Day	Breakfast	Snack	Lunch	Snack	Dinner	Dessert
1	Sausage, Egg & Spinach Casserole and Fruit	Apple Pie Larabar	Bacon Bison Burger	Banana and Strawberries	Steak and Veggies
2	Sausage, Egg & Spinach Casserole and Strawberries	Cashews and Apple Pie Larabar	Leftover Bacon Bison Burgers	Apple and Justin's Almond Butter and Grapes	Coconut Almond Chicken Strips with Sweet Potato Fries
3	Sausage, Egg & Spinach Casserole and Banana	Cashews and Almonds	Left over Steak and Veggies	Banana and Strawberries	Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats	Mango with Coconut Flakes
4	Sausage, Egg & Spinach Casserole and Banana	Kiwi (2) and Cashews	Leftover Coconut Almond Chicken Strips and Sweet Potato Fries	Banana and Strawberries	Crockpot Pot Roast	Mango with Coconut Flakes
5	Fruit Smoothie	Apple	Leftover Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats	Roasted Almonds	Chicken Breasts and Baby Lettuces (Brussels Sprouts)
6	Banana and Coffee	Banana Bread Larabar	Leftover Chicken and Baby Lettuces	Apple and almond butter and Cashews	Eggs and Bacon	Mango with Coconut Flakes
7	Sausage, Egg, & Spinach Casserole and Fruit	Cashews	Leftover Pot Roast	Apple Pie Larabar and Almond Butter	Spiralized Zucchini Pesto Pasta
8	Sausage, Egg, & Spinach Casserole and Fruit	Banana Bread Larabar	Leftover Spiralized Zucchini Pesto Pasta	Apple and Almond Butter	Prosciutto Pesto Chicken Roulade and Cauliflower Florets
9	Sausage, Egg, & Spinach Casserole and Fruit	Almonds and Cashews	Leftover Prosciutto Pesto Chicken Roulade and Cauliflower Florets	Strawberries	Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps with Purple Cabbage Slaw
10	Sausage, Egg, & Spinach Casserole and Fruit	Apple Pie Larabar	Leftover Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps with Purple Cabbage Slaw	Apple and Almond Butter and Cashews	Paleo Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
11	Fruit Smoothie	Cashews	Leftover Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps with Purple Cabbage Slaw	Strawberries and Pineapple	Steak and Baby Lettuces	Mango with Coconut Flakes
12	Smoky Sweet Potato Hash	Apple with Almond Butter	Grilled Chicken Salad	Cashews	Spaghetti Squash Carbonara
13	Fruit Smoothie	Apple and Almond Butter	Leftover Spaghetti Squash Carbonara	Orange	Leftovers
14	Spinach, Egg, & Sausage Casserole	Cashews	Leftover Spaghetti Squash Carbonara	Blueberry Larabar and Dehydrated Mango	Chicken and Asparagus
15	Spinach, Egg, & Sausage Casserole	Apple with Almond Butter	Leftover Spaghetti Squash Carbonara	Cashews and Almonds	Slowcooker Breakfast Meatloaf
16	Spinach, Egg, & Sausage Casserole	Roasted Almonds	Leftover Chicken and Asparagus	Pineapple	Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries
17	Spinach, Egg, & Sausage Casserole	Apple and Almond Butter	Leftover Burger and Sweet Potato Fries	Dehydrated Mango	Eggs and Bacon	Grapes
18	Spinach, Egg, and Sausage Casserole	Roasted Almonds	Leftover Breakfast Meatloaf	Pineapple	Steak and Baby Lettuces
19	Fruit Smoothie	Almonds	Leftover Steak and Baby Lettuces	Apple and Almond Butter and Cherry Pie Larabar	Pork Chops and Baked Sweet Potato	Banana
20	Fruit Smoothie	Cashews and Banana	Leftover Pork Chops and Sweet Potato	Cherry Pie Larabar	Burgers and Salad
21	Apple and Banana	Cashew Cookie Larabar	Leftover Steak and Sweet Potato	Apple and Almond Butter and Cherry Pie Larabar	Spiralized Zucchini Pesto Pasta
22	Coffee	Cashew Cookie Larabar	Leftover Zucchini Pesto Pasta	Roasted Almonds and Apricot	Eggs and Bacon
23	Sausage, Egg & Spinach Casserole	Blueberry Larabar	Almond Coconut Chicken Strips	Cashews	Steak and Baby Lettuces
24	Sausage, Egg & Spinach Casserole	Cashews	Leftover Steak and Baby Lettuces	Strawberries and Bananas	Leftover Steak and Baby Lettuces
25	Sausage, Egg & Spinach Casserole	Coconut Cream Pie Larabar	Leftover Steak and Baby Lettuces	Kiwi (2)	Steak and Salad - no dressing
26	Sausage, Egg & Spinach Casserole	Coconut Cream Pie Larabar	Burger and Sweet Potato	Cashews and Apple	Burger and Sweet Potato
27	Sausage, Egg & Spinach Casserole	-	That's It Bar	Salami and Apple	Eggs and Bacon
28	Fruit Smoothie	Apple Pie Larabar	-	Strawberries and Blackberries	Chicken Fajitas
29	Sausage, Egg, & Spinach Casserole and Fruit	Cherry Pie Larabar	Leftover Chicken Fajitas	Apple and Almond Butter	Pork Tenderloin and Baked Broccoli
30	Sausage, Egg, & Spinach Casserole and Fruit	Apple and Almond Butter	Leftover Pork Tenderloin and Baked Broccoli	Fruit	Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Overall, I will (and have) continue to encourage the Whole30 lifestyle in my home.  I'm beyond happy with the results and though it's fairly restrictive, I've learned to have a better relationship with the food that I eat. I am certainly not perfect but I am learning and striving for an 80/20 diet - a girls gotta have some FroYo and a glass of red every now and again! 

If you're on insta check out our hashtag for Whole30ish round one #parkisonwhole30. And if you feel the urge - send me your favorite Whole30 recipes! I'd love to hear about your experiences!