Let them Wear Burlap

I love this kind of challenge. Take a burlap sack, a model who may or may not have decent taste and make something brilliant that Nina Garcia will like. I was very impressed this week, overall I thought that everyone did a good job. I even agreed with who won but I did not think that Jesus should have stayed. So the loser made a denim strapless unflattering dress but at least she didn't cheat and the dress covered her model's butt. I'm just saying. If Ping didn't go home it should have been Jesus. Plain and simple.

So here is what I liked:

Also I liked that Ping's model got kicked out, was I the only one who thought she wasn't cute?

Also I loved the guest appearance of Mel on Modern Family this week. Totally different show that you should be watching.

4 weeks old

Today Henry is 4 weeks old. Its kind of hard to believe that he has been with us for so long already although it feels like he was always here. He just fits so perfectly into the family.

So in honor of the month we did a little photo shoot. He was a very good sport and was so tired out that he slept through my entire pedicure appointment.
I love his little feet and his scrawny legs and the one roll he has on his upper thighs.
He is very active with his arms and legs. When he is not swaddled up, they are always moving. My stomach and breasts have received many a good, strong kick.
His eyes still have a very small, light rim to them. I'm holding out for blue ones...
Its funny how much stuff this kid has and yet, he is so tiny. Note the alphabet card change, luckily Henry has no duplicate letters.
He has the driest skin, being a new land mammal after months in the water. Here you can see the slight flakiness. He is a regular skin-shedding machine these days. At least it gives me something to pick off while he is eating.
Henry Nash, what a joy you've been in our lives.

Back in New York

Last season of Project Runway left me feeling pretty blah. It was boring, I just didn't feel the LA vibe and something was missing-talent, interesting contestants, Michael and Nina. So when Lifetime announced they were going to have another season and so soon after the first one, I wasn't filled with anticipation. But how could it get worse?

It is already so much better. It just feels better in NYC. At this point there are way too many contestants to really have an opinion but these are the looks I liked the best last night. I am very intrigued by a few of the designers in particular Amy and Maya.

And of course there is already someone who drives me nuts. Janeane. She cried or almost cried at least 3 times and even though she ended up pulling it together and producing a pretty decent outfit in 2 hours, she left me rolling my eyes.

The forums gave this look a pretty hard time but I love the funky asymmetrical top and even though I feel like I have seen the skirt before, I liked the print.

Where have you been the past 285 days?

Expected: Coming home from the hospital and only being like 10 lbs lighter than when I went in. Its funny when you think about it because the baby weighed 8 lbs and the placenta weighs a couple too. But then they pump you full of IV fluids and your ankles swell up into cankles and your cute belly bump is now an empty flabby sack. Its a magical time.

Luckily you pee and sweat out the majority of your fluids within the 1st week and suddenly you are 25 lbs lighter then your ending pregnancy weight.

But since I gained 45 lbs (yikes!) throughout pregnancy including the 12 weight watchers lbs I had lost, I still have 20 to go.

Unexpected: The Wii Fit Plus telling me I was overweight and pretty much calling me a slacker. I've never been overweight. Sad. And I haven't been on the Fit for 285 days.

And since I can't officially start an exercise regime again until 6 weeks after delivery, yesterday Henry and I walked to Barnes and Noble and almost continued on to In-n-Out to grab a shake but thought better of it. We did another lap around the block and the fresh air did us well.

How are your nipples?

Expected: Breastfeeding to be difficult and painful. Actually Henry and I make a pretty good team and after a short stint with the lactation specialist, we had latching on down. And it really is only painful for the first couple of seconds=painful as in I am doing the open mouthed silent scream so as not to disturb anyone while they eat.
Its funny how any medical professional will inquire after the state of your nipples when you tell them you're breastfeeding. I don't know whether to say the ubiquitous "They're fine" or offer a more blunt response such as: "Oh you mean how's the blood blister that has been sucked into existence on my right one?" or "Oh great, I can't even feel them anymore."
Stock up on Lansinoh (cream and pads) prelabor.

Unexpected: Waking up in a full body sweat each time Henry cries at night. Not that he makes me stressed and sweaty but that my body is getting rid of months of stored up fluids. Either way its gross and smelly and on top of other leaking that might occur, I now sleep on a towel.And random but this is the birth announcement and holiday card we sent out. Thanks Photoshop and free prints from Costco.

24 days into motherhood

So far being a mom is great. It's pretty simple. You feed your baby and then he sleeps for 4-5 hours and then you do it again. You make sure he doesn't scratch his face with his fingers and you clean diaper after diaper and change his outfit time after time.

I was always worried about being a mom. Call me crazy but labor and delivery didn't scare me as much as coming home from the hospital and having the baby-forever. But so far it has been a lot easier and a lot less scary than I imagined. Maybe it's because Henry is a pretty good and mellow baby or maybe it's because I imagined the worse and got something worlds better. Or maybe it is because all those motherly instincts, the natural urges they tell you will just kick in, have kicked in. Either way, I haven't killed him on accident yet. So, so far so good.

Merry Christmas--a little late

My parents came into town the Tuesday before Christmas and stayed for a week to help with Henry. Thanks Mom for stocking our freezer, doing loads and loads of laundry, making pink jell-o and for getting a 40 year old rental bathroom to really shine. Thanks Dad for finally installing the dimmer switch in the nursery that was on my to-do list for months and for getting a 15 year old Honda to really sparkle, inside and out.
Overall Christmas was relaxing and nice with lots of great gifts and time with family.