Moving

Well we made it! We moved all of a few miles! But we officially got all our crap from a little 2 bedroom to a bigger 3 bedroom. So far we all love it!

The actual process felt like it took forever, but I'm so glad that's over. We wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of our friends and Army family. They guys helped go back and forth between the houses loading and unloading their pick up trucks numerous times. They also helped me pack the rest of random crap that my preggo brain may have forgotten! ;) They did all this without complaining and me not having to lift anything heavier than 15 pounds. I can definitely say that we are blessed. Oh, and did I mention that they did it all in the course of a day? I feel like beer and pizza weren't enough payment.

The next step was cleaning the house we just moved out of! That was a sucky task! I definitely couldn't have done it without the help of my friend Ashley. She helped me organize the chaos of my new house, wrangle the children, and clean my old house from top to bottom! I don't know what I would've done without you Ashley!  Thank you so much! :) And I owe you coffee next time we go out!

Now we are just taking our time settling into our new house. So far we are all loving the space and change in layout. Not to mention having a third bedroom! Woo! So now the question is, who's coming to visit? :)

All American Week

This week here at Fort Bragg is All American Week! That means last week was clean sweep week, filled with long days of "area beautification", and this upcoming weekend is Memorial Day weekend. It also means a four day weekend! Woo!

This week is filled with all kinds of activities, it kicks off tomorrow morning with a division run of about 18,000 people running together. It looks really cool, although my husband reassures me all the time that it's beyond stupid.

And to top off all the activities, we are moving! Allllll the way across post. ;) Not too far, but still have to pack up and clean a house. Its going to be a crazy week that's for sure! So I'll be sure to update after all the craziness passes. What are y'all's plans for Memorial Day?

Body image

Any other women who's body didn't go back to the way it was after a pregnancy will relate to this post. When I got pregnant with baby #2 I was not where I wanted to be with my body and weight. It was difficult to accept that my body would yet be changing again when I hadn't even gotten to my goal first.
Before I was pregnant I was one of the many girls that didn't fit into society's idea of thin. I was a year round athlete, thicker built, with larger shoulders and boobs. I never felt that I was skinny enough and always felt the need to work at being that way. I didn't appreciate the way my body was pre baby. Now, I wouldn't trade my babies for anything but I wish that I could go back to tell myself to relax and enjoy the body that I had. To be proud of the way my body was made. I should've been fine with my body and not felt the need to be embarrassed at the beach or the pool.
Not every body changes the same way during a pregnancy. I learned that quickly. I always hoped that I'd be one of those lucky girls that was all belly, nope! Not at all! I gained weight every where and looked swollen. :-/ Celebrities and models and super cute pregnant women give you false hope of what you think you'll look like. I was also one of the unlucky ones to get stretch marks, and not just a few, and not light ones either. I had quite a bit and they were purple and redish. I didn't feel horrible about the ones on my belly, they were my baby battle scars, but the ones that appeared on my legs post labor still to this day make me self conscious.
After I had Briley I did get back to my pre pregnancy weight but my body didn't get the memo. I still didn't fit my old clothes the right way, I still felt awkward and frumpy in my own skin. And going to the pool when a swim suit didn't fit right and my new tiger stripes (stretch marks) on my stomach and legs? Fagetta'bout it! I tried really hard to lose more weight and make myself feel better and after a while I did. But I didn't reach my ultimate goal before I found out that I was expecting for a second time. And now that I'm pregnant again I worry how my body will change this go round. Will I get even bigger? Will the stretch marks get even worse? If the worst happens to my body, will I ever get time to go to the gym?
I hope to eventually feel comfortable in my own skin again. I'm not sure when that will be, but hopefully someday in the not too distant future.