era28 - I am also struggling to make friends. It can be so lonely!
At least when I worked I had "work friends"... I have an exercise buddy, I have a couple girlfriends, although we're all at different points in our lives so that can be hard. It really stinks! I'm right there with you. I just keep putting myself out there, smiling at Mommies at the playground, going to groups, chatting people up in the grocery store... We can do it!
junebug41 - I gained 50 lbs!! Boy do I need the scale to move. I was in pretty decent shape before baby - I had been maintaining a healthy weight, was very into yoga, pilates, I'd done 30-day Shred and all that business several times through... but when I stood up from the birthing bed, I knew I was WRECKED.
I'm determined to get back into better shape before the next little one comes along.
Your house sounds adorable! We have a smaller space as well - I think we're in 1100 square feet. My challenge is creating storage. I can't believe your little one is moving! Little Miss still hails a cab at 8 months. She's sooooooo close to crawling... but still face-plants every time.
I can't wait to hear about the gym!
astrophe - I'm hoping that modeling good behavior for the little one will inspire me to be extra-virtuous as it has for you! I'm hoping to return to work once the babies are all in school - and since baby #1 is just now 8 months old, it might be a while before I have a block of time that will be my own! When did you start volunteering? How old were your little ones? I have several volunteer opportunities targeted already, but it just seems so impossible right now... one car, no family nearby to sit for me, baby going through separation anxiety...
8 years, good for you!
Blueberries - I know, I'm scared of having another!! That's a big reason I really want to PUSH to be back in shape for the second. I'm really hoping to not gain as much - with this pregnancy I was sick for several months and could only eat Rice Krispies. Seriously. TONS of Rice Krispies. Then in the last months I wanted red meat and molasses... and yes, together. I had a hamburger and molasses cookies every night for weeks. Ugh. That, and the 55 hour workweeks which meant no exercise, and my BALLOONED. Yikes.
Next time I will be at home, and maybe I'll be smart enough to not be pregnant all through the Texas summer, so I can get out and walk, walk, walk. Because I know that having two instead of one will be at least doubly as difficult!
Hang in there!
veggiegirl123 - We just quit our massive cable subscription (and have only basic channels now), so I find myself reading much, much more. Turns out I have a really nice library! I have been thinking of having the husband-person get me some books on tape so I can "read" on my elliptical. I know the exercise doesn't "count" as much if you're distracted, but the elliptical is just so.darn.boring otherwise, it just sits there... no clothes on it yet, but it's been used about 7 minutes this week. Can you chew ice while you read? Mmmm... ice.
JustJ280 Don't give up! You can do it, you can keep going and trying new things, and something will work!
You don't sound boring at all! My day usually goes: wake up, feed baby, clean baby, walk, feed baby, clean baby, play, clean house, plead with baby to let Mama be so she can clean house, give up, play, feed baby, clean baby, start dinner, plead with baby to let Mama be so she can make dinner, finish dinner once Papa is home to hold crying baby, feed baby, clean baby, walk, baby to bed... oops, Mama fell asleep nursing baby down. The end.
Now THAT is boring!
If you're doing babies with a hubs on a weird schedule (and we were too, at first he was working 7am-midnight, yikes!) then you're doing enough.
Ladies, let's encourage each other. Some days, I look at Laundry Mountain, and the man at the top says: "Go eat a chocolate bar." and I do.
Has anyone successfully sold their dirty laundry? Tell us how!