Life Lately

Hello! I started writing this post last Thursday and have been planning to come back every day since then to finish it. Here I am almost a week later finally making my way back here to write again. I am trying to get some kind of structure built into our days and prioritizing my to do list so I can be as efficient as possible while Emma is napping throughout the day but some days are not going to go at all the way I hope they will and sometimes that means the things I want to do don't make the cut.

Getting into any kind of routine with a newborn is a lot to ask for, so I am trying to be patient and realistic in the meantime. We are making progress and over the last week or so, I feel like we are starting to get into the swing of things here.

I started meal planning again last week and even though I can't say we had a delicious dinner on the table every night, I did manage to ease back into cooking with two delicious crockpot meals and I have a few go-to manageable meals planned for this week so we're off to a good start. When we're not cooking, we end up eating out or eating terribly at home so I've been trying to stick to healthier, simple meals with a protein and some veggies to get us back on track.

Speaking of getting back on track, I promised myself this week would be the week I started working out again. It's only Wednesday, but it feels good to say I've exercised every day this week so far. I'm getting back into it with the 21 Day Fix workouts because I know I can find 30 minutes every day to knock out a workout and I can count on getting my butt kicked in a short time with these for now. I know I'm not at a place to start going to a gym again, so this is a great start for me. We have a treadmill at home so I'm thinking next week I will start Couch to 5K so I can ease back into running as well.

I haven't exercised regularly since I don't know, May, maybe? It's been rough and Monday I felt pretty discouraged trying to keep up but I need to start somewhere and I don't want to be in the same position 6 months from now so I need to push through this initial struggle to get myself where used to be.

In other news, I am a little late to the game, but I am finally starting to get into podcasts. I have already finished the first season of Serial and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to that one. It's been great to listen to while I nurse Emma throughout the day and now I'm itching for other podcasts to get hooked on. If you have any recommendations, please share!!

We've been letting Emma sleep through the night for about a week now and she's been pretty consistently sleeping from 9:30/10 PM to about 4/5 AM every night which is an incredible blessing. I don't want to get too comfortable because this could change any day, but I'm feeling well-rested and a little more like myself lately.

Now feels like a good time to share some random photos from the last few weeks.

We've been parents for about 5 weeks and it's been an incredible adventure so far. It's funny how quickly you fall into new routines, new patterns and responsibilities without thinking too much about it. How quickly you can't imagine life without this sweet child in it. How quickly you realize that this time is so precious and so, so fleeting. How incredibly full of love you feel for this child, your husband, your blessed life. How no matter how tired, emotional, hormonal, overwhelmed you feel, it's all so completely overshadowed by the joy. So much joy.
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Emma Joy: One Month Old

Our sweet Emma turned one month old on Tuesday! This last month has been incredible. We've received such an outpouring of love and support from friends, family, neighbors and clients of Jonathan's. Emma is so loved and Jonathan and I have been grateful to have so much support and encouragement during this time. 

The last few weeks have flown by and we are trying to soak in every fleeting moment because our little lady has already changed so much. 

Emma Joy, 

You're one month old already! How is that possible? Every day you become more alert and aware of your surroundings. Your daddy and I love watching you as you take in our faces and the little world around you. We can't believe how quickly you've already grown. 

You're still wearing newborn size diapers and most of your newborn size clothes. You have such long, skinny limbs that most newborn pants are too short for you but anything bigger is super loose around your tiny waist. 

You've been such a trooper as we've had visitor after visitor the past few weeks - all people we love coming by to love on you. You are loved by so many, sweet girl. You don't mind all the attention and you snuggle up in the arms of whoever wants to hold you. You've been sleeping great since we brought you home and you manage to sleep through whatever chaos surrounds you, which is usually Abby barking or chasing Taylor cat through the house. You'll have a lot of fun with Abby later, but for right now, we're glad you can sleep through her noise. 

You're nursing so well now and at your one month appointment yesterday, your doctor and I were so relieved to see you're up to 8 lbs, 14.5 oz which is right where you should be. You lost so much weight after we left the hospital, your doctor had mommy supplement your feedings with formula or breastmilk from a bottle. I feared if you didn't start gaining some weight back, we might need to switch you to formula completely but it looks like that won't be necessary now. Your doctor even said we can start cutting back a only give you a bottle every other feeding. Mommy is so happy to know you're getting what you need from me and I hope we can keep this up. We're figuring it out together, little girl but my goodness I am relieved to know you are growing like you should be.

Mommy has been waking you up every few hours at night to feed you because if I didn't, you might sleep right through a meal. Now that you're where the doctor says you should be, she says I can let you sleep at night until you wake up on your own. Thank goodness because it's hard to see you sleeping so peacefully and having to be the one to wake you up. Last night we let you sleep until you woke on your own and you made it to 4:30 AM! Waking up to your sweet little sounds at 4:30 this morning was a joy and I'm one well rested mommy today. You might flip the script on us and wake up several times tonight, but right now I'm going to celebrate what a great little sleeper you are.

You love being swaddled and if you're fussy, we can typically count on a good swaddle to calm you down and you'll be sleeping within minutes. You love to snuggle but usually don't mind being in your bouncer or swing. You have the hiccups quite often and you are not a fan. You don't exactly love bath time but you never scream at us. You mostly just look a little disgruntled and uncomfortable but as soon we wrap you up in a towel, you're a happy girl again. Daddy and I love bathing you and getting you in your jammies together and snuggling with you after a bath is our favorite.

You make so many adorable little noises that we can't get enough of - little squeaks come out when you yawn and you make lots of little grunting noises when you're hungry or gassy. We can't get over your chubby cheeks. Your daddy and I kiss them so many times a day - we just can't resist!

The last month with you has been a dream come true for your daddy and I. We're soaking up every sweet second with you. We love you, Emma Joy!

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Emma Joy

Hello world! This post is going up way behind schedule but the last few weeks have flown by as we've been settling into life with a newborn. Emma Joy Snyder was born on July 30 at 12:26 AM. She weighed 8 lbs, 3.3 oz and was 20.5 inches long.

Somehow we're already days away from her 1 month birthday.

I am really hoping to share Emma's birth story eventually because although it's a long one and some of the details are a little blurry, it's important to me to document it once I have the energy to sit down and write it out.

This precious girl is by far the greatest thing I've ever done and life is incredibly sweet with her in our world.