Don't Waste the Pretty

I read an article in Parenthood recently that struck a chord, but not the one the writer intended to strike. The piece was entitled "Feel Better Naked" and was all about believing that your body is sexy and incredible even though you may be toting a few extra pounds and sagging in some places you weren't before, post-baby.   The author cautions, "Drop the notion that "where your body should be" is where Victoria Beckham's is-- or even where yours was prebaby-- and you'll make life easier."  Let's face it.  The life-creating and birthing capabilities of the female body are miraculous, truly.  But do I really have to revel in my "mushy tushy" and not-so-loving love handles for the rest of my life?

Is 27 really the end of the pretty?

For the past nine months, I have tried to embrace the new me.  These stretch marks are war wounds from a battle well-fought.  This cushy tummy is the perfect pillow for Liam to cuddle up to.  More to love, right?  I've tried the not-caring thing.  It's true, "Denise Richards might look good in a bathing suit, but I highly doubt any of us would want Charlie Sheen for a baby daddy."  I should be grateful for and respectful of my body.  It can do amazing things.  And there are more important things in life than vanity.

But is it just about vanity?  What about health and fitness?  

I came to a conclusion.  If my body can create another human, why can't it bounce back to the days of hotness?  Easier said than done, but one can try.  So what did I do?  I joined a women's fitness club down the street from my house.  There are cardio, kickboxing, pilates, yoga and zumba classes galore and I can go to as many as I want for a flat rate.  Why, you ask, have I signed up for indoor classes when I live in the outdoor fitness capitol of the world?  Well, it is because I have a procrastination disease and I end up sitting around all day wearing my workout clothes, but not actually working-out in them.   I need a schedule.  I need to feel like if I don't go, I'm wasting money and letting down my instructors.  This is my version of self-motivation.

Wes has agreed to take care of Liam during the one-hour classes while I'm sweating to the oldies...or Black Eyed Peas.  I want the pretty back, and I'm going to get it.  There are too few years of it to waste it away pretending my babies can't live without me for an hour a day.  I want to be my healthiest self.

So watch out, glutes and gut.  I'm coming for you.

Swimming Lessons

After a nine month winter, we finally took Liam to the pool for the first time.  He's hooked.  I think he thinks it's a giant bath...minus soap in the eyes.  I have to say, there is something unequivocally cute about baby swim trunks.  Am I right?  He's our little water baby!

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Cover, 2010? 

This is the first and last time you will see me in a swimsuit before I embark on and conquer The Road to Hotness.  And that will happen just after I conquer the chocolate chip cookies calling my name from the kitchen.  Happy summer!  

"My Daddy Helped Born Me"

This is the Father's Day post that never happened.  Never in the history of the world was there a father who loved a son more than Wes loves Liam, and vice versa.  You can see it in the way Liam lights up and starts flapping his chubby arms up and down when his daddy enters the room.  You can see it in the way Wes melts as he rocks Liam to sleep and Liam lets out a sleepy sigh as he drifts peacefully into dreamland..."Daaaddaa." 

It started before Liam was born.  Wes took an active role in making sure Liam arrived safely and happily into this world.  Liam felt loved in the womb as Wes read him stories, sang to him and told him he loved him any chance he could.  Wes attended every single Bradley class with me, and learned the intricate and gory details of childbirth.  He practiced relaxation exercises with me.  He did the research.  His role in helping Liam arrive was irreplaceable.  I am so grateful to Dr. Robert Bradley who paved the way for today's fathers to be able to participate actively in the birth experience.  I believe that it has allowed fathers to develop a deeper bond with their children faster than the generations of fathers expelled to dreary waiting rooms for the duration of their wife's solitary labor.  

I believe that one of the most important elements of a healthy society is for a man to be a good father to his son(s).  I also believe that those who come up short in that responsibility will have to answer for their failure.  Wes is playful, gentle, empathetic, engaged, interested, encouraging and protective of his baby boy.  Most importantly, he is full of love.  Sure, he is forgetful and has a one-track mind, but he has already succeeded in every way that matters.  I believe he had been anxiously awaiting fatherhood for many years.  

Weston, thank you for being the Dadda I always envisioned you would be.  As Liam gets older, I will remind our boy that your love for him was born long before he was.  And he will know that his daddy helped born him.

Happy (late) Father's Day!

Charles Family Reunion 2010

Six years ago, there were seven.  Now, seventeen.  Next year?  We're knocking on twenty's door... This family grows fast.  And it just gets better and better with time.  For this year's Charles Fam Reunion (which I argue should be called "trip" or "vacation" since 82% of us live within 10 miles of each other), we packed up our little families and drove to Duck Creek Village, UT.  Less than an hour away from Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, it was an excellent spot from which to experience what Southern Utah has to offer.  It was a week full of adventure, dee-LISH family meals, late-night games, sight-seeing and some sleepless nights for one Liam Charles and family.  

Liam got to meet the Travis Charles fam for the first time, and they were an instant hit.  They spent a couple of nights with us prior to the reunion.  Liam and Avery especially bonded, but we have decided to wait a few years to break the news that kissing cousins is somewhat taboo...  

Behold- our humble abode for the week.  The grandparents and two families with crib-sleepers got dibs on the three bedrooms while the Kevin Charles and Mike Wilton families roughed it in the above-ground car-tents exhibited below.  Way to go, troopers!  

Note to self: Think twice about picking up and lugging a rhino from Draper to Southern Utah with a crying baby in tow.  Not fun.  I wouldn't wish the extra few hours it added of that on anyone.  I'm glad everyone had a good time on it, but next time it's your turn!  Thank you to Milli's sweet parents who loaned it to us.  

This was a common scene.  Liam was busy bouncing in the Johnny Jumper around the corner in the kitchen, but he had a fantastic time watching his six cousins interact over the week.  He totally wanted to join in.  I bet he can't wait until he can play!  

Mammoth Cave.  Liam's first spelunking adventure.  Sort of... We forgot to bring serious flashlights (genius), so Liam only went as far as the daylight could reach.

Cedar Breaks.  When I see scenes like the one below, I kind of feel like I'm on another planet.  Southern Utah has such a unique, beautiful landscape that is singular to the area (and maybe somewhere in Nigeria).  

I wonder what Liam and Avery are communicating.  I'm guessing Avery was downwind of Liam's diaper...

It was a little on the colder side at such a high altitude, so we huddled as much as possible.  

The munchkins learned about the formation of the rocks over millions of years.  They were riveted.  

Liam got in some good bonding with MoMo over the course of the week, who graciously watched over him while Mama and Dada went on solo adventures.  

I can't take credit for over half of these pictures, because I forgot to bring my Nikon (genius).  Regardless, these are some of my favorites, thanks to Kevin and Tracie.  

This was taken just after Alex fell into a stream and Uncle Mike rescued her...I think she inherited a few genes from her Uncle Wes.  She's a tough cookie.  

The highlight of the trip for me was hiking Bryce Canyon.  Cranky Liam stayed with MoMo at the lodge while Wes and I frolicked on the trails.  

There was a bench on a trail on which dozens of people had carved their names/dates/etc.  Wes made a little addition, and I'm pretty sure it's supposed to read "R + W".  Close enough.  

Overall, it was a glorious week.  Thank you so much to MoMo who organized everything without a hitch, and to everyone for being so helpful and such good sports.  With that said, I'm not going to jump at any opportunities to take Liam on long roadtrips until he's at least a teenager.  I'll keep that in mind when Wes and I plan next year's reunion, aka family trip... ;-)