So how am I doing?

Not that anyone comes on here to check on me or anything. So if you're looking for adorable baby pictures, come back next week. We had a great month so far and have taken lots of pictures I can't wait to share. But I am. Waiting that is.

I was out running the other day and realized how much more comfortable and accepting I am of my postpartum body than I was pre-Eli. I used to hear mom's say this and think it was a bunch of lip service, that they really did care but used the pregnancy/birth/lack of time whatsoever with a kid to justify the fact that they no longer really liked their bodies. But I'm telling you - I am amazed at what my body did and amazed at what it is now. I gained 45 pounds, I've lost over 50, and there are parts of my body that are changed forever, but I really don't even care. I think I look damned good. The sad thing is I used to care so much more - what released me? Did becoming a mom change me that much? I am in awe of the fact that I gave birth to another human but why would it change that part of me? Truthfully, I don't know why but I know it's nice. It feels amazing to be content.

I am feeling a little disconnected though. I went shopping for my wardrobe that is sorely in need of updating. I've never been super into fashion or anything, and now I just want to wear clothes that flatter me and look put together, no matter what the current trends are (seriously - go away skinny jeans and leggings. I have too much hip to pull you off). When I was shopping though I was just...surprised at what the people at the checkout counters were wearing, and surprised at what was even offered in the store and how much of it I just didn't like. I suppose I'm getting older and I haven't seriously bought clothes for 2 years because of the whole pregnancy/birth recovery thing, but I didn't think I was that out of touch! I think a lot of it is because flowy tops and skinny pants just don't flatter me, I need flowy pants and skinny tops for this pear-shaped girl. When I did find a pair of pants I liked (cords) the girl at the counter asked me "aren't you glad cords are back in style? I had a friend make fun of me and say that cords were so ten years ago but they're coming back!" Christ. They were out of style? I guess I haven't worn any in a while but I love cords, they are like the perfect fall pant. So I bought them anyways, they may not be back in style (I only saw them at one store) but they look good on me.

I hope to have time to update next weekend. My brother is getting married Friday, my sister is due any day, and Eliot will be 16 months old. Exciting times people, exciting times!

Fashion Cents

I splurged and bought a new dress. I have nowhere to wear this dress and no need of it, but I saw it and I love it and it is just so freaking cute!

So that is me, just out of the shower, trying to figure out what goes with the dress (definitely the green towel). We went out to dinner Friday and I wore it with jeans, but I would really love some boots. The dress is fun and kind of 60's and needs tall boots. But I (and by "I" I mean my right big toe) found a hole in my only pair of black work flats this morning. Those need to be replaced stat because I am so done with heels. I'm all about COMFORT. Except when it comes to that dress and I would suffer in whatever looks good. Any advice? I really don't know what to wear with it, which is probably why it's been sitting in my closet for 3 months before I just did the jeans thing.

You're probably wondering why I'm in a cheerleader stance. That's because we do not own a full length mirror in our house so I am straddling the bathroom sink with one foot on the toilet and one foot on the tub and OH MY GOD DON'T FALL. Which is a serious concern because have you seen my bruises from falling down a staircase? Um yea....I've been so very coordinated lately and have fallen many, many times. Everything hurts. So it's a good thing I wore jeans with the dress because the bruises and the bumps and the oh yea(shhhh..) unshaved legs.

Oh yea, dinner! We ate at the Craftsman on Lake Street. It was good. For the appetizer we had the cheese plate (always a good thing). Chris had a steak and I had the gnocchi - which was amazing. I've never had homemade gnocchi before, and this was the best gnocchi ever. I wish I could cook like that. But we probably won't be going back there often because HOLY EXPENSIVE. And we didn't even get dessert.