Age: 3 months

Milestones: LOTS of smiles and noises!  She also discovered her hands this month.

Nicknames: Sweet Girl, Little Sis, Sister, Sis, Sugar, Sugar Britches

Sleeping: She gets her bath around 7:00 and is in bed about 7:30.  She's been getting a dreamfeed at 10:00 each night.  She went several weeks sleeping until 6-7:30am.  The last several nights she's woken up before then.  One night there was a thunderstorm that woke her up at 2:30 and I had to feed her to get her back to sleep.  Then she's been up at 5:30 several times.  I'm ready for consistency.  She's still sleeping in the pack-n-play because I don't want to move her to her room until she's consistent.   It's a different ballgame with two kids because I would let Landon cry things out more than I do her.  I don't want her to wake Landon up!

Eating:  We do a Babywise eat, wake, sleep schedule.  She's been on a pretty consistent 3 hour schedule this month.  She's a great eater.  She's refusing bottles, though, which is NOT COOL.  I have a wedding this weekend I'm going to have to take her to.  We're trying to work on it, but I'm worried!

Highlights:  The smiles and interactions with her.  She's always "talking" to you and smiling.  I love it!  The "witching hour" has gotten better because her 3 hour schedule has her eat at 4:30 and then nap for about an hour from 5:45-6:30/6:45.  That helps us get dinner ready and eaten.

Allie's Likes:
- Bath Time.  She has started kicking her legs in the bath this month.  We also started laying her in the tub like a big girl.
- Her activity mat.  She lays and smiles, coos, and kicks her legs.
- Her swing.  Still her favorite thing at this age.  She loves to sit and watch the elephants on the mobile.
- Smiling.  She gives adorable gummy smiles.
- Landon.  She loves talking to him and when he talks to her.
- Sitting on the couch.  We'll prop her up with pillows and it's adorable.

Allie's Dislikes:
- Tummy time.  She doesn't mind it for a little bit, but then she's had enough and starts this growling noise.
- When she's sleepy and she's not in her bed.  She fusses if she's in her carseat or stroller for a bit until she gives in and goes to sleep.

Favorites at this stage of parenting:  The smiles and coos.  Watching Landon and her interact.  Landon loves it.  He says "Mommy!  She's looking at me!"

Challenges at this stage of parenting: The recent night time inconsistencies.  I'm ready for her to sleep until 7:30 consistently.

Doctor appointments this month:
None.  She'll go back at 4 months.

Diaper and clothes sizes:
Diapers - Size 1
Clothes - 3 months.  Some of them are even too short.

How Momma feels: 
Emotionally - After the emotional roller coaster I felt like I was on last month, I went back to counseling this month.  Yes, I go to counseling.  You should too!  It's amazing!  I hadn't been since last Fall and decided to go back to get some tools to help with those emotionally trying moments and some of the struggles I was having.  It helped TREMENDOUSLY.  I went twice this past month and feel SO MUCH better.  The struggles are still there, but I have a better grip on things and some tools I can pull out to use in those moments.  I still have hard moments and days, but I'm doing and feeling much better.

Physically - I still am struggling with the weight I'm carrying in my mid-section, but I've seen some change in it this month.  I started running regularly (at least weekly, sometimes twice a week), plus cut down on my sweets/sugar intake AND limiting my carbs/bread and making sure I choose good carbs (whole grains, veggies).  I've noticed far less bloating and some of my "post baby shorts" are starting to get loose.  Yay!!  I've also noticed my distasis recti is getting better, too, this month.

Tidbits:
- She's still sleeping in her pack-n-play in the office at night, but we moved to her bed for naps.  She's doing great!
- She's started kicking during her bath time.  So cute.
- She smiles and coos and "growls" all the time.  It's the cutest.
- One of my favorite things is watching Landon talk to her, play with her, and watch Allie watch him intently and smile, coo, at him.  I can't wait until he can make her giggle.  My heart might explode.
- Another favorite is hearing Landon talk to her.  He says things like "Allie, hi sister.  Hi sweet girl." He'll even include her in his playing sometimes by bringing her toys.
- One day in the car, Allie was fussing and I overheard Landon say "What's wrong Allie?  Do you need privacy while you poop on the potty?"  LOL  #pottytraining
- When she gets sleepy, and you're holding her, she rubs her face/nose all over your shoulder, chest, and face.  It's adorable. 
- Before bed each night, Landon has to give me and Allie both a kiss and a hug.  It's precious.

I graduated College 10 years ago, last month!  What?  How am I that old?  In honor of being out for 10 years, I thought it'd be fun to do a little survey about College. 

Did you marry someone from your college? Yep!  I married the cute blonde Senior orientation leader I met on the 1st week of school!  I was a freshman and Ben was in his 5th and final semester.  I was 18 and he was 22.Did you live in a dorm? I lived in a dorm the first two years.  The first year I lived with my best friend from HS and the second year I lived with another friend.  There was 4 of us that were really close and we actually just switched roommates for that 2nd year. 

 What kind of car did you have? I had 2 cars during my 4 years at college.  I went to school with my HS car, a 1994 Chevy Corsica.  She was hunter green and her name was Connie.  She died my freshman year and my parents bought me a 2002 Red Kia Rio.  Her name was Rowena.  (I was into naming my cars)  She was small and so cute.  I had a leopard steering wheel cover and my sorority letters on a license plate on the front.  Ben was always so embarrassed to drive her. 

What kind of job did you have in college? The first two summers I came back home and lifeguarded at the outdoor pool where I worked in HS.  I also taught swim lessons there too.  The summer after we got married - which was right before my Senior year - I lifeguarded at another outdoor pool in the city we were living then.  I also taught swim lessons then too.  My Senior year I got an internship with the company I ended up worked for, post graduation.  It was a Human Resources Internship and I eventually became part of their HR department after graduation.  I worked there for 8 years before having Landon and staying home.

What did you study in College?  I was a Management major with a minor in Business Administration.  I emphasized in Human Resources, too.

What were your favorite classes?  I loved Business Law and my HR classes. 

What were your least favorite classes?  Biology, Accounting, Economics, and Statistics.  I barely made it out of Economics alive.  And I passed Accounting with the help of a sorority sister who basically tutored me the whole class through.

Were you apart of Greek life?  Yep, a sorority, for 2 years.  I only did 2 years because I got married and transferred schools.  I made some great friends, got great t-shirts, but hated paying the bills!

Did you graduate from the school you started at?  Sadly, no.  I LOVED the school I started at.  Still do.  Ben and I met there and I really got super plugged in.  Because Ben is 4 years older, he moved away and got a job.  We did long distance for a year and then got engaged in Fall 2003 and married in June 2004.  In order for us to get married, I decided to transfer to another college in the town near his job (and where we'd be living).  I love that school too (we still live in that town) but just didn't plant as many roots there.  I never lived on campus since I was married and simply went to class and came home.  I did make better grades at that school though!  I also never would've gotten the job I had if I wasn't at that school.  God knows what he's doing!

It's Friday night...where were you? Pre-marriage: either hanging out with friends, a sorority event, on a date with Ben, or hanging out at his apartment cooking dinner together.  Post-marriage: at home!!

What kind of job did you get when you graduated?  I was a Human Resources Administrator.  I did a ton of paperwork for a company's HR department.  About a year into it, though, I got promoted to Human Resources Generalist and handled the company's recruiting process.

What kind of job do you have now? Stay at home Mom and Beachbody Coach

Were you a party animal? Definitely not.  I wasn't your typical sorority girl.  I never went to the parties and I led Bible studies for my sorority.  :)  Plus, being in a sorority gave me the opportunity to make tons of friends and I already had a boyfriend.  I had no need to go to the party scene to meet people.

How many boyfriends did you have?  Just 1 - Ben!  Like I said, we met the first week of my Freshman year, dated 2 years and then were married for my last 2 years.

Did you go to sports games?  Basketball games, sometimes.  Football games, no.  Our team wasn't very good.

Did you do early classes? Summer classes?  I made the early class mistake my Freshman year.  I had 8:00am classes that year and decided never again.  Ha!  I learned that lesson the hard way.  I think that class was American Lit too.  LOL  Torture at 8:00am!  I never did Summer classes because I always wanted to enjoy my summers.  Plus, I never needed the extra hours.

Where did you hang out mostly?  My dorm room, friends dorms/apartments, Ben's apartment, the fitness center.  My love for fitness began in College. 

 Did you go home much?  I was less than 2 hours from home, but I stayed on campus most weekends during my 1st year.  My 2nd year, Ben had graduated and moved so I spent the weekends going to visit him.  We would switch it up - I'd visit him at his place or he'd visit me at my parents' house.  My grandparents lived 30 minutes away so I saw them quite a bit.  They even did my laundry for me.  (crazy, I know)

 When did you graduate? 2006

If you could go back and do it again, would you? Yes and No.  College was some of my favorite times in life.  Such great friendships formed and memories made.  I love August each year because the excitement of college kids moving in, starting new journeys, that's so exciting to me.  I always wish I could be a student for August and then quit.  Ha.  As much as I loved college, I HATED the class part.  I made crappy grades at the first school I went to (I mean, I made As and Bs, but I also made Cs and 1 D in some tough classes).  I had to study my butt off to even think about passing a test (and sometimes still wouldn't).  I'm so glad I don't have to study and do college classes anymore!!  I do miss the lazy days of sleeping in, taking naps, going to workout...ahh easy!!

 Do you still talk to your roommates? Well Facebook makes it easy to "stay in touch" now a days, but actually talking to them, on the phone, on a daily basis?  Just one.  My best friend who was my roommate my Freshman year.  She's still my best friend today!  I don't know what I'd do without her.

I'm now 12 weeks post partum and I thought it was time to do a little progress update on how I'm doing getting back in shape.

At 12 weeks, I'm not where I'd hoped I'd be....but I'm not sure my expectations were realistic, honestly.  I am a perfectionist and tend to be pretty hard on myself, so I'm working on that.  I'm realizing what is reality and working to accept that.

I just finished my May 30 day challenge and I lost about 3 pounds.  I feel a lot stronger than I did 30 days ago.  I'm able to run longer, I have more endurance in my workouts, and my strength is slowly coming back. 

While I'm so happy at the progress in the pictures above, my area of struggle is still how I look.  I'm having a hard time there.  It's tough to look in the mirror and zero in on "problem areas" I feel I have.  Satan has really been getting to me in this area and I've had to actively combat it.  I'm re-reading Beth Moore's book "So Long Insecurity" which I LOVE and have read twice before.  I'm also working on giving myself some grace and remembering I had a baby 12 weeks ago.  And I had that baby via major surgery.  It takes time....I know that.  I'm just very inpatient and putting a lot of pressure on myself to bounce back quicker.  I'm working on that.

I'm also nursing Allie.  When I nursed Landon, I didn't lose the extra weight until I quit when he was 13 months old.  I'm expecting that this time around too, but for some reason, it's harder to accept.  I'm not sure why. 

I've got to stop comparing myself.  I've got to stop idolizing my health and fitness.  I've gotten stuck in that trap the last several weeks and I see it and am working on it. 

I'm trying to give myself more grace.  Realize the reality and adjust accordingly.  Enjoy my babies.  Enjoy the days.  Enjoy the fact that I'm at where I'm at, health wise.  Celebrate the fact that I'm able to feed my daughter.  So thankful for that.

I'm 12 weeks out and I'm not where I'd hoped I'd be, but I'm accepting that and moving forward.  And as I move forward, I'm staying positive, realistic and continuing to take care of myself in a healthy way.  I'm also going to stop the negative self talk.

I'll hop back in at the end of my June 30 day challenge and give you another update!

Hey there Shape Her reader! Kate here again, I’m so excited to be sharing something God pressed on my heart recently.  Do you ever feel as though you need to get back to the basics? Dumb it back down as if you were being introduced to something for the first time? I certainly do.

As believers, I think it’s natural for us to always want to know God more and to be in awe of Him.  Sometimes in my pursuit of that, I forget the foundational promises He’s made to me as His daughter. So that’s where I am right now, and I’m reminding myself of them through reading my Jesus Storybook Bible (yep, the one intended for little kids). Recently my pastor mentioned in a sermon that when he gets asked the question “how long do you read your bible for each day?” he says that he reads until he finds a promise to proclaim or a sin to confess.  I love that! And wouldn’t you know that in just about every story in the Jesus Storybook Bible I’m finding an area that I need to confess or a promise that I’m clinging to?!

One morning I was reading of Abraham, I’ve always loved Abraham. While his story shows that God keeps His promises to us, no matter how farfetched they seem, that’s actually not what captures my attention the most. It’s Abraham’s obedience and readiness when God calls him that I admire the most of the story. In Genesis 22:1 it says:
"After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ' Here I am. I have to stop and wonder how often I’ve actually responded to God in that way.  If I’m being transparent my track record isn’t looking all that great. I usually have an excuse lined up on why I can’t respond to His call immediately.  I have to “clear my schedule” to fit the harder things He has called me to in.

I read a term from Hilary Rushford called “Create Providence”, it means making space for God to move.  How often do we get in our own way? I know I’m in my own way 95% of the time. I pack my schedule to a point where it’s so full I feel as though I barely have time to wash my hair more than once a week! It results in this formula: Me being in my own way by having a packed schedule = not being ready to be obedient when He calls = a tougher time than necessary for Kate (and maybe you too).

Therefore, I’m praying that God would give me the courage to free up my time, to say no to some things (and be okay with that), and more importantly: instill in me an obedience like Abraham’s. This year I’m going to do the work to create providence so when He’s ready, I can respond with “here I am”.

I’m a person who needs to be reminded a lot. So, I created these printables for me and you! It’s hanging up in my closet so that every morning as I get dressed, I’m reminded to have a heart, and mind (and schedule) ready for when God moves. In the PDF you’ll find two sizes. One 8x10 to hang up somewhere in your home and two 4x6’s to place on your desk at work, your car, your fridge, your locker, wherever you find will be the place for this sweet little note (and you can give the second one to a friend)!  To download the PDF document, simply click the image below to be taken to the downloadable PDF.

May we create providence and have obedience hearts, let’s let God fulfill His promises in our lives just like he did with Abraham.

All my love sweet sister,
Kate

Hi, I’m Lori!  I am a wife and stay-at-home mom to two energetic boys ages two and three.  I love to cook, craft, run, cycle, hike, read, and travel.  Keeping my family fed well is one of my greatest challenges.  This granola bar recipe is quick and easy to make, and my boys love them for breakfasts and snacks. 

GRANOLA BARS
 -- Dry ingredients:
1 ¼ cups rolled oats
1 ¼ cups brown rice crisp cereal
¼ cup hemp seeds
¼ cup unsalted sunflower seeds
¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
2 tbsp. chia seeds
2 tbsp. sesame seeds
½ tsp. ground cinnamon

 -- Binding mixture:
½ cup plus 1 tbsp. brown rice syrup
¼ cup almond butter or peanut butter (or some of each)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1) Line an 8- or 9- inch square baking dish with parchment paper.  In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. 
2) In a small saucepan, combine brown rice syrup and peanut and/or almond butter.  Stir over medium heat until mixture is soft and begins to bubble. 
3) Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. 
4) Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir well with a wooden spoon.  While still warm, pour into baking dish and press to compact. 
5) Place the dish in the freezer for 10-12 minutes.  Remove and slice into 9 granola bars.