Anxious Mommy Heart.

No one tells you how truly stressful parenting can be... 

You try to balance between discipline and teaching respect. You make sure he knows his ABCs, 123s, colors, shapes, etc. You read to him to encourage the love/habit. You have him unload the silverware from the dishwasher and help sort laundry to foster teamwork. You socialize with other parents who have kids his age to encourage friendship. You struggle with potty training, but push on. You make time for one-one-one outings to remind him he was your first baby. You love him unconditionally even on the days you want to pull your hair and hide in the closet.

And then he gets sick. His small pitiful 3yr old voice crying for “Mommy” breaks your heart. You want to cuddle with him and make it all better but the baby is screaming and now you’re terrified of her getting sick too. The nurse hotline gave great advice, but it didn’t quench my anxious mommy heart. This has been the scariest flu season I can remember in my 30yrs+ on earth... my husband had a co-worker die from it this week! That’s way too close to home. Way too close to my kids. Way too stressful for my anxiety-riddled mind to even comprehend right now... it’s 10:41pm and my alarm is going to go off in exactly 19min for me to check my son’s temperature for no less than the 10th time since this afternoon. If I wasn’t 3mo post partum and nursing the baby I would give anything for me to be the one sick and not him... but I cannot fathom being sick, nursing, and taking care of both of them as well. I know it’s possible. If it happens I will power through. But man. Parenting is hard. Body, soul, and mind.

Praying and clinging to these words tonight: 

“Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.”

Romans 12:12 GNT

Tiny Toes.

I pray that these tiny toes will go many places during my daughter’s life. Whether that be exploring different countries, leading children across school grounds, walking through the halls of __________.

Obviously I have no idea what her future holds, but I can control the present. I can help guide her (and my son’s) feet by being the best mom I possibly can. 

I strive to teach my children love, respect, discipline, humility, cooperation, and to instill the fact that asking for help is okay, that we can voice our opinions (but to realize they won’t always be accepted and furthermore they won’t always be correct), and that relationships are far more important than things.

I don’t have it all together.

I yell too much. Timeouts happen.

But so do “I’m sorry & I love you.”

This is real life. And I’m just trekking on...

Fit Friday! - Stroller Leg Workout

Thanks to a nasty stomach virus Friday was pretty much a blur... and I completely missed posting this (last) week's Fit Friday, I sincerely apologize (especially to Adrien!), but I promise it's still great! So... since today is a day off from work for many, if you can get outside or to an indoor track if it's raining/snowing like it is for me, this is going to be a fun workout for mom (or dad) and baby/toddler!
-Tay

As always, if you use Instagram don't forget to tag 

@thedaringdanedlion @active_freckals and this month #strollerlegworkout

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Like many families out there, ours is a one-car family, and we simply cannot afford for me to have gym membership. So workouts have to either be quiet enough to happen during baby girls naps or they have to be baby friendly. Not to mention my husband and I also really missed being able to run with each other. So after much research and asking my fellow mom friends their thoughts on different types we decided to invest in a jogging stroller.

Best decision ever. I get to go running at least 2 times a week (more when we all go) and my daughter gets to see her parents stay healthy and active. Plus she loves being outside so she really enjoys the rides.
~Adrien

Freckled & Free

Below is a short stroller workout you can add to your walk or jog.
Take pictures of you working out with your little loves and tag us on Instagram
@active_freckals and @thedaringdandelion

 
Disclaimer: Adrien is a Beach Body Coach, however all the moves listed are done at your own risk. Please ensure that your baby can hold their head up on their own before attempting any of these moves. Be sure to consult a doctor before starting any exercise program. The Daring Dandelion along with Freckled & Free assume no responsibility for injuries that may occur while completing the moves utilized in this workout.

Toddler "Hulk" Muffins.

We'll be traveling soon and I bought WAY too much baby spinach and bananas... so I scoured the internet for a recipe I could doctor to my liking. I call these "Hulk Muffins" because of their ridiculous green color!

Things I've learned while making these muffins:

1. I really need a Ninja or Vitamix
2. I would like one of those huge mini muffin pans
3. Purplish-brown batter = green muffins?
4. While little man likes them as is... They are a bit bland, so I may up the spices/fruit next time. I guess you could also add a drizzle of honey, or slap some butter on!

Okay onto the recipe...

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Toddler "Hulk" Muffins  
Dairy free, nut free 

• 2 bananas, mashed
• 2 cups PACKED baby spinach
• 1 cup frozen berries (I used blueberries, blackberries, cherries)
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• couple twists on a sea salt grinder

1) Preheat oven to 350*
2) Blend bananas, spinach, frozen berries, applesauce, and egg in blender 
3) In a medium sized bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt
4) Stir in mixture from blender
5) Fill muffin cups 2/3 full
6) Bake 20-25min until knife comes out clean

Yield: I got 12 regular sized muffins and 7 mini muffins

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I told you... these things are GREEN!

Blend.

Stir.

Combine.

Marvel (haha, get it?) at the unique color!

Cool.

And because I'm guessing many of you are saying - "sure, like any kid would eat that" - here's proof of my little dude enjoying one!

 

Alright, so about that blender. Ninja or Vitamix? ...and go!

-Tay

Giving credit where credit is due: Original Recipe

NAS Oceana Airshow 2015

We headed down to the airshow mid-morning opening day... It was quite busy! Somehow we got into a preferred parking lane and ended up parking where the fighter jets usually are on base. No one told us to show a pass or anything so we just went with it. Because of where we parked we didn't need to take a shuttle, we just loaded up the stroller and walked to the entry. We got to see a military landing zone and bombing demo, the Geico Skytypers, an awesome aerial show in a Texan, and some skydivers. Of course we were there for the Blue Angel's though!

Ear pro by Baby Banz

Mamarazzi... hehe, love my boys! They are checking out the skydivers.

SO MANY PEOPLE!

F22 Raptor, my favorite! Our windows would rattle like crazy when they flew over our house in Hawaii.

Despite the Blue Angels not performing until 3pm we ended up heading back to the car around 2pm since baby boy was completely spent, and probably a bit dehydrated, little did we know we would be getting to see the Blue Angel's after all! He drank some water and promptly passed out. We spent nearly 1.5hrs in the parking lot... for some reason they only had one exit route set-up for the parking area we were in. Let me just say you sure can learn a lot about a person's character when stuck in a parking lot. There were two cars that decided they were far more important than everyone else and bullied their way through the lines (I mean we didn't want to get in an accident, and I don't think anyone else did, so when they kept edging in and honking their horns we weren't chancing it!). Despite watching the Blue Angels from the car and the crazy parking situation - it was a good day!

What is your favorite part of attending an airshow?
-Tay

10mo Post-Pregnancy.

My muscles are coming back! 
This is a big deal.

So many people have looked at me after giving birth and said things along the lines of -
"Did you really just have a kid?"
"Look how thin you are!"
"You are so lucky."
"You need to gain some weight..."
"Are you dieting? You should probably eat more." 
"You're looking kind of ill."
"Well, at least you aren't fat."
 

Here's the truth in numbers, not that it's any of your business but I'm all for honesty...  I gained 23 pounds during my pregnancy, currently I am 8 pounds under my pre-pregnacy weight.

I had a very long and drawn out labor, maybe I'll share it sometime, that ultimately resulted in a c-section and basically being on bed rest for 8wks. During my labor I separated my ab muscles (diastasis recti) and couldn't do any traditional abdominal workouts (think sit-ups/planks) or strenuous ab activity otherwise I risked increasing the separation rather than healing it. About 10wks after delivery I did my first post-natal workout DVD. I slowly started adding walks that turned into jogs pushing the baby. I did yoga positions that stretched and strengthened without putting too much pressure on my abs. But it wasn't until little man hit 7mo that my abs were finally back where they needed to be for me to push myself. I am currently doing Les Mills Combat and loving it, I feel stronger and more energized. My body is getting its muscle tone back and while I still haven't gained much weight I know it'll come. I think I will have to worry about it when he stops nursing, my mom & husband joke that he "literally sucks the fat out of me" since he's such a chunk! My shirts fit normally as do my dresses. My shorts, pants, and skirts are a whole different story. But not the "normal" issue- they are all too big! My butt is gone, I (insert pride) had a pretty nice butt from working out and now it's just flat and non-existent. I honestly don't know where it went or when it truly left (it was huge during pregnancy!). I'm guessing sometime in those 8wks of being fairly sedentary. So I need to get it back so my stupid clothes stop falling off me...

I write all of this to say:
1) Whether you are thin, average, or "bigger" post-pregnancy someone will always have something to say about it - brush it off!
2) As hard as it will be, you have to give your body time to heal... 40(ish) weeks in, 40(ish) weeks out. I'm JUST now feeling like I'm back in my routine.
3) There's no magical solution or pill - it takes work.
4) Your clothes will fit again, or if you desire, your new clothes will fit even better!


What is the weirdest thing someone said to you after having kids?
-Tay

Babies & Birthdays.

Little man is two months away from his first birthday and the questions have started rolling in...

1. What kind of party is he having?
2. What does he want?

First regarding the party - when did it become necessary to have such a huge event for a one year old. May I remind  you they won't remember it. They don't need a huge banner, fancy DIY party favors, a custom order cake, or fancy catered food. They are one. One. (I'm not sure anyone NEEDS those things to begin with). Why should I spend that much money? I will take pictures, he will know he was celebrated and loved.

Yes, I want my son's birthday to be cute. I'll probably even have a small banner, I plan on doing some DIY items, but I'm making the cake myself and what is so wrong with simple balloons and streamers these days? I swear moms put so much pressure on themselves these days to "have it all together" and make "pinterest worthy" items ...I just don't have time for that!

This is what you get when you search "1st birthday party ideas!"

Second, my baby doesn't want anything other than love, attention, food, and a place to sleep... probably a changed diaper every now and then. So what you're really asking is "what can I buy him?" But my answer isn't fun, it's not what people want to hear, it's practical. My sons NEEDS (money towards) the next size up car seat and winter clothing (um hello, he was born in Hawaii and lives in a diaper most days). Neither of those things are shiny or make noise, but I can say that I'd much rather have my son safely secured in our vehicle and dressed adequately for cold weather than the fleeting moment of happiness that comes with a new toy.

So, if you don't want to hear my answer that's fine, just include a gift receipt, haha!

What are your thoughts on baby birthdays?

-Tay

World Breastfeeding Week.

Well, it's world breastfeeding week... I have EBF my son since day one, I pumped for back-up supply & so daddy could be part of the feedings once or twice a day, and we didn't even introduce solids until he was already past 6mo old.

First latch, swollen and puffy in the recovery room after my c-section.

Breastfeeding isn't "easy," it is physically and emotionally demanding even for someone who hasn't had any latch, supply, or duct issues. The first month Lanolin was my best friend and I had one tiny milk blister that a hot compress and my pump got out. Other than that... Smooth sailing for little guy and I.

Like I said though... It's physically & emotionally demanding! Why? Your baby relies on you 24/7 for everything. I honestly don't remember much from the first 2wks other than we camped on the couch during the day and I walked across the hall to his room to log miles in the glider all night long. Feedings were every 1-2hrs, but cluster feeds - oh man - those could be every 30-45min at night! Some days I couldn't remember if I had showered. Luckily I was hungry all the time so not eating or staying hydrated wasn't an issue for me.

Going places. Hmmm... All I have to say is make sure the back seat of your car is comfortable while breastfeeding! Lots of times even if I fed right before we left the house, I would have to feed him again when we arrived at our destination. In the beginning my husband wanted to bring bottles if we went out, eventually he realized it truly was easier just to give straight from the source. I think it just took him some time getting used to being comfortable with me feeding in public.

I have only pumped twice since he turned 6mo old, I really should build a stock back up, but I truly hate that thing. My insurance didn't cover a pump (it does now, so next baby I'm totally getting a nice hospital one!) so we got one of the Medela's which is nice and works but honestly the baby is so much more efficient and I hate sitting there "milking" myself! HUGE PROPS to all you career mommies that pump all day at work! That takes dedication for sure!

I NEVER wanted to breastfeed, I always said "my sister and I were formula fed and we both turned out just fine," seriously ask anyone who knows me well. Once I got pregnant and started taking classes I weighed pros/cons, and decided I would try it out in the hospital to see how it went... I ended up sticking with it but I have plenty of friends who's milk supply wasn't enough and had to supplement, those whose supply never came in, and those who straight up said "nope, formula it is!" All of which are perfectly fine in my book. If your baby is healthy, you're doing it right.

Yesterday, 9.5mo old (his arm is about to smack me in the face!)

A lot of people choose to breast feed because it's free. And while this is true in the monetary sense there are still "costs." It takes a lot of time, a lot of will, and being okay with giving of yourself completely. I mean my entire wardrobe has changed, while I still go for cute/comfortable most of the time I don't buy it if I can't figure out a way to breastfeed in it. That's kind of limiting. And time is a huge one, early on some days I felt like all I'd done was sit on my butt while my baby ate/slept then wanted to do it again... and again... (I feel the same now with growth spurts and teething days/nights).

Now it's more of a bonding time... Despite occasionally getting slapped, scratched, or kicked (he's a big guy now at 21lbs) I like knowing he needs me and that my body is still giving him nutrients that he needs!

Do you breastfeed? If so, any crazy stories? 

-Tay