6 MONTHS POSTPARTUM + BABY UPDATE!

• I am no longer breastfeeding. Izzy is completely on formula and eating rice cereal at least twice a day.
• Izzy can now sit up for a good while before she falls!
• Izzy can move in a circle and roll over but no back or forward crawling yet!
• Izzy weighs about 15 and a half pounds and is 25 inches long.
• She is being called Izzy more instead of Belly.
• She smiles all the time now! And laughs a lot. She's talking a whole lot more and will actually hold a conversation for a while.
• She can hold a bottle by herself!
• She is sleeping through the night now. She's very active during the day and takes a few long naps or lots of short ones.
• Izzy likes to bounce or pat her hands to music or rhythms!
• Izzy is starting daycare on August 3 and just got a note to tell them to put her to sleep on her tummy!
• As a mama, I want to hold every single baby I see. Even if I have Izzy and especially if I don't.
• Izzy's poops are definitely stinkier.
• My postpartum body is still at the same weight as it was five months ago! Once the year and Izzy's daycare starts, I will be doing a lot more to stay healthy and active.

Also, today we moved out of our apartment we have been living in for the last year. Today marks the start of a new journey WITH Isabella! I will be writing/creating some blog posts about the new beginning including some home decor, home cleaning, exercise, dance-related, college, and mommy-related subjects! Some if not all of these will be combined in some way, shape, or form. Look forward to those!

Thank you for keeping up with me and my little family. (:

xxx

Beth

Being in the moment.

Around this time last year, we went hiking at Julian Price Park.
The past few days, we've been hiking the trail at the same park to Hebron Rock Colony.

Last year, I was asked by a course I was taking to take a day without technology. I caved later in the day to using my cell phone and my computer.

Now, I feel at peace with technology. I say that with my laptop in front of me, my phone to the left, and my Nintendo DS to the right...

But, really, I do feel at peace. Yesterday, at the falls, all I could do was gawk in awe of it's natural beauty. I totally lost track of where my phone is. I didn't care for pictures. I recently started playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf. It's almost to the point of being religious. But in front of that waterfall, I couldn't do anything but stare in complete amazement. It was truly amazing.

Now, with all the stuff happening in my life, I am able to stop for a minute and think "Wow, this is amazing". Before, I would have stuff racked up in my brain and have not been able to hear myself think.

It's crazy how things can change in a year.

It's crazy thinking about where we used to be.

xxx

Beth

LET'S CATCH UP: 5 MONTH BABY & POSTPARTUM UPDATE!

Hey, guys! It's been a great 5 months and I just want to let you all in on how Izzy, EC, and I are doing.

Izzy:

• Can sit up with a little help.
• Grabs at everything put in front of her (esp. food and plastic containers).
• Puts anything she can into her mouth.
• Can put her feet in her mouth.
• Sleeps about 10-11 hours at night and wakes up in the middle of it to eat.
• Takes at least two naps a day.
• Loves to be in our Infantino mei tai carrier.
• Is super drooly always from teething.
• Is almost ready for real, kind of solid food.

Postpartum:

• Dancing is easier. Although the other day, I pulled something in my pelvis that hurt for a split second. Obviously, I still have limitations.
• I'm still at 170 lbs. I stopped losing weight once Izzy turned three months. I look like I'm five months pregnant instead of five months postpartum. Which I may not start to work on until I'm done breastfeeding Izzy.
• I'm having to eat foods to help produce milk (oatmeal, garlic, veggies, etc.).
• I walk five miles a day no problem but when I have to carry her in the carrier, my feet hurt like I'm still pregnant.
• Hydration is more important than anything else right now.

EC:

• Is figuring out how to be motherly while still being a father.
• Loves dancing with Izzy in tow.
• Loves doing chores around the house with Izzy in tow.
• Suggested he bring Izzy to work with him.
• Is getting a little more sleep than he used to thanks to late night shifts and the times when Izzy can be really fussy.

Overall:

• We are trying to be more frugal.
• We also have Nini here with us (It's tight, but working).
• We have been vegetarian for about a month now.
• We're dancing/choreographing more.
• Working more.
• Everything more.

Thank God for all these things that are possible through the life He has given us.

xxx

Beth

P.S. - here are some links to some new YouTube videos we have up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibes2isIUlc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ptFScus0wo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibes2isIUlc

What is a nice thing?

This is why we can't have nice things:

• I don't think I have enough nice things.
• I'm too attached to material objects: clothes, home decor, etc.
• I go into stores, look at things, and find a place for each thing instead of being at home, needing a thing, and buying only that thing when I go to a store.
• I don't understand the meaning of a nice thing.
• Instant gratification is more pleasing than long term; I'm an impatient person.

In short, I don't need any more than I have.

A few of the things I value most:

• Quality family time.
• Quality spouse time.
• Quality friend time.
• Quality moments.
• Not quality things.

EC and I have come to a point where we walk into the store and think "Wow. I don't feel like I need anything in here". And he's right. We don't. We never have. We only need the roof over our heads, the food on our table, and the people who love us.

Right now, our extra money is going to paying credit cards, settling debts, and knowing exactly how much we have. It's not about living within our means, it's about loving what we have.

I have plenty of nice things.

xxx

Beth

Settling down.

Hi guys!

Haven't really talked to you all in a while. EC and I have been getting used to the littlest member of our family lately. That, and all the stuff to do with school, jobs, family matters, government services, etc.

I'm starting a work study soon at the library and will be working a bunch of camps at TCVA this summer while taking 6 credits (2 courses). I'm excited but nervous? I don't like having a lot to do but also love having a lot to do. I used to be the person to take as many shifts at work as possible no matter what; I'd just down a bunch of Java Monsters. Anyway...

We're teaching at an intensive in Charlotte on June 27, which is the same day as my nephew's 1st birthday and the next day will be Belly's christening! We're trying to figure out baptism classes and the logistics of it all but that's all in one weekend. (And Megan's graduation is the Saturday before that [not to mention Father's Day])

We just have a busy summer on our hands! And Belly will be starting daycare on August 3rd...so we're facing the challenges of training our baby to do what they require of her so she can attend there. It's a little troubling having to base our parenting on their requirements but to finish school in a timely manner, we kind of have to. While it's not severely limiting, it's just troubling enough to dictate a few important things in her life like naps and feedings.

Trying to get back into dance is hard. I'm still not used to my new body and don't quite feel comfortable in it yet but the more I work, the more I will probably get used to it.

Talk to you guys later! (:

xxx

Beth

Plein Air Watercolor Summer Class!

Painting on a cliff about a mile above sea level is kind of great. I feel so inspired by the world around me and I love creating! I'm just glad my family can join me in my creative ventures. (:

xxx

Beth

We're VLOGGING!

In case you didn't already know, we've started daily vlogging!

We're not very good but we're trying. I promise. Royal promise.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGIqiBM16SOy80KkUPmJ73w

Check us out! (: