Body After Baby

I'm fairly lucky in that my body recovers pretty easily after having a baby. With the first two I never did anything special and my body went back to normal. With it only having been 13 days now, I can't yet say what it will do after baby #3.

3 Days postpartum

I can say that my weight is down and back to pre pregnancy weight and there are a few jeans that my hips can slide into! With it having been over four and a half years since my last baby, I can't remember how long it took for my hips to go back to their pre baby size.

Taken 9 days postpartum.

 I have plans to try some at home workouts once my body has had time to heal and recuperate. Summer is only a few weeks away and our trip back home is in only two months! I'd love to be tightened and toned by then. That's the goal at least!

Here's some more photos I took exactly like my pregnancy ones but 9 days postpartum.

And my least favorite photo. I still have that dark line!

Funny Friday

Christian was saying how he was going to have a baby one day and Alena tells him he can't because only girls can. Gabe corrects them and says that it takes a special ingredient from both the mommy and daddy to make a baby.

Alena - "I know what that special ingredient is!"
 
Hmm, where is this heading?

Alena - "It's LOVE!"

Yes, that's it. Love. These kids never cease to amaze us. :)

Birth in Pictures (graphic warning)

*If you do not wish to see blood or birth, then I suggest you leave the page before you see these pictures.

I'm in the process of writing out the birth story (it's long, emotional, and taking me a while to process everything that happened) so until then, here's the actual birth in pictures. I've been documenting everything about the pregnancy and not holding anything back. The birth isn't any different.

These photos show the raw emotion and pain that was happening in the moment. And that first picture might be my fave! Everything from the pain of pushing, the happy looks on Gabe and Alena's face, to the poor midwife's assistant's face as I squeeze the life out of her hand. I also love that you can actually see my belly getting smaller as he makes his entrance into the world.

My first glimpse at his head.

Get out baby!

One final big push!

Wow, this feels weird. Here he comes!

AHH! There he is!

What a relief!

I did it!

Pure, raw, emotional pain and love.

Thankful

That's how I feel when I see all three kids together. Yes, the baby has arrived!

Noah Alexander was born at home in the water on April 17th at 10:41 AM. 7lbs 3oz and 19in. I'll update with the birth story soon. It was one heck of a ride.

This is from a quick photo session done on Saturday. Noah was 3 days old and not feeling too cooperative. Good thing he's so cute. :)