I tell you nothing motivates pressing the eject button off of the couch like watching the science specials on Alzheimer’s that have been airing on HBO. You can tell me a hundred times that I should walk at least 30 minutes a day and I will nod my head in agreement and really WANT to get up and go for that walk. But at the end of the day there will be too many excuses: it’s too hot, too humid, I just ate, Real Housewives is about to start…And I will vow to do it tomorrow. Even go as far as trimming my toenails so that my walking shoes fit better.
But show me a special that spells out EXACTLY how exercise can help prevent Alzheimer’s and I am out the door faster than you can say aricept.
Last night I was almost giddy to get going and probably went a bit too early in the evening for my heat/humidity comfort levels. I know I am not quite at the magic 6 week mark to begin resuming activities post birth, but I figured walking around the block would be fine. And yet I knew that the number 30 (as in minutes) would be too much to face. Instead I took the kitchen timer and set it to 15 minutes. I pressed start as I made a left out of my driveway and decided to just walk until I heard the long beeps and then turn around and come back.
Oh and did I mention I had company? Alert and curious company in a little baby buggy bumper device. The first ten minutes were great. The air was sort of kind of cool (for Florida) and there was a lovely rumble of thunder from a distant storm. The scent of honeysuckles was strong and the traffic wasn’t quite up to the come home from work level. But minutes 11-15 were kind of hard. As in I was TIRED and sore and feeling like the walk was a huge mistake. But I kept pressing on.
As soon as I reached minute 15 at the beep went off I looked up to see my good neighbor friend drive up along side us. “I WANT TO SEE THE BAAAAAAABEEEEE!!!!!” And boy was it a nicely timed break. She got to coo over W and I got to relax a bit before making what now felt like an epic journey back home. Plus it felt like I was being a real person out in the world running into a friend. That was really nice.
Finally a certain someone, I won’t name names, could not STAND to be still and not moving and had to alert the entire world to how bad a Mother I am. And the SCREAMS began. And good fucking lawd is it no fun to hustle it home with a screaming baby. However, it does, like I said, make you hustle, and it was a little bump up in the workout. (he stopped shrieking after 2 minutes when a giant rain drop landed on his face. Thank you Universe.)
So we got home and he was fast asleep and I was able to dart upstairs to take a MUCH needed shower. The crap part is that before I could even get into the shower I could hear W waking up and screaming. We are still going through this very inconsolable phase that is equal parts lovely (oh to be needed!) and exhausting (oh please stop crying!). It also feels kind of intense to be the only thing that will calm him down. I used to be able to let Mother hold him while I ate/showered/did laundry/cleaned/changed sheets/blogged but now just handing him off puts him in a dire panic.
(& Thank You to Debbie that left me the links about wonder weeks- very, very helpful right now)
Today I am sore in my legs from walking and tired from an all-nighter with W. This is where I now profess my absolute love for the latest housewife installation on Bravo. I have now watched it 3 times and it is the BEST one yet. It just fascinates me to watch such a large family- I can’t even imagine how chaotic and complicated it is. And then to have all the money and all of the drama and all of the characters. And now I can’t stop staying bubbies (instead of boobies). So I spent my night comforting, nursing, shushing, and laughing.
This afternoon we are going to go visit GM. I have decked W out in a swank outfit that is a hand me down from Jennifer and looks so damn cute. So cute that you know I had to share with you guys this morning.
Too legit to quit
Mini gun show
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Ooooh. I so need an eject button for my couch. What a great idea. I guess mine would be the ideas of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. So far it’s still sort of a slow eject. Good job on the walk. And yes that outfit is soooo cute.
Hell, I don’t even have a new baby and I can’t get my ass up and moving, so I am much impressed! And oh! could he be any cuter?!? Before I even read your caption I was already thinking – thats kids ready for the gun show! HAhahahahah! Loooove you!
My problem is that I WANT to walk, but am having so much heel pain that I can’t! The weather is perfect for it here, and it’s pissing me off.
WW is so adorable! Love the outfit.
Ah yes. We went through that “Not the Mama!” (and no, Mommy won’t do) + inconsolable crying every evening stage at around 2 – 3 months old here.
Big, big fun.
It does pass, though.
For a while now, Peeper’s been very happy to hang with Mommy til she has to come back to Mama to nurse, and an inconsolable crying jag is very, very rare.
(You do know that by saying that, I’ve just cursed myself. Sssshhhh, don’t listen Universe!)
Oh my! Isn’t the reunion of Real Housewives insane?! I just have to say..um…as I’ve repeatedly said on Twitter…I can NOT stand Kelly Bensimon! Ugh..really..I prefer Alex and Simon to her any day!
super super cute pictures! he’s totally going to be break dancing in a few years, i love it!
Good for you to start walking. W. gets cuter every time you post a picture, if such a thing is possible.
Did you know that it’s okay to step into the shower and have a relaxing five minutes to yourself EVEN IF YOUR BABY IS SCREAMING?
It’s true! When I was a new mom I used to think that if the baby was crying I had to either do something immediately to make it stop or at least I should demonstrate my concern and camaraderie by standing there listening to him scream. This didn’t help either of us. I eventually figured out that sometimes, for no discernible reason, babies scream. It doesn’t mean that they’re on fire or being set upon by rabid porcupines, they just scream. Maybe it’s existential angst.
But I found that if the baby was fine and he was screaming for the heck of it I could take a shower or go for a little walk outside. When I was done he was often no longer screaming.
Just a little advice for what it’s worth. The baby is now an enormous young man who drives and votes and understands calculus. He doesn’t hold my mothering techniques against me.
i adore your beautiful photographs. sorry i haven’t emailed you back about the photography stuff! i will soon, promise!
Ah yes, I remember when just having a conversation outdoors was the height of excitement during the newborn phase.
So I know this is TOTALLY not the point of this post, but where on earth did she get those pants? Those are the coolest things EVER. I MUST OWN SOME!