JENNY FROM THE BLOCK: October 2011

Muffin Top!

It's Annika Ruth here again. I have officially hijacked my Mom's blog. Wow what a weekend! Saturday I turned 7 weeks old and as you can see I am getting so grown up. I am very interactive now and starting to bat at my toys.

This weekend was great because my Dad took a vacation day Friday and had the weekend off. Very importantly my Grandma Cindy had a birthday too. We celebrated my 7 week birthday and her birthday with a visit. We are best of pals. I had a lot to tell her.

She needed to fill me in on the down and dirty regarding my Dad when he was my age. We kicked my parents out onto their bikes so she could tell me the real truth about my Dad. She even showed me a school report stating my Dad needed to "pull up his socks and try harder" . If that's not enough she showed me the report his kindergarten teacher gave him. The one where she said he lacked fine motor skills especially when cutting. To think today people let him cut their bones. My mom even trusts him with her bike. I just saw my Dad sawing off the excess headset height it. It looked great. That cut was as smooth as my rear, I mean a baby's bottom. Anyway Grandma was such good company I didnt even notice my where my mom went. Hey where did Mom go?

My parents went mountain biking together 3 days in a row! I didn't get to go but judging from these pictures it looks really fun. My Mom promised me that as soon as I am big enough to ride her bike she let me ride it. The way I grow that could be just around the corner.
There are lots of ways to get in shape post partum. Side bends, sit ups, or switchbacks and single track into Sycamore Canyon. After brief review of this video. I am guessing my Mom is attempting the later.

There are a number of concerns with postpartum cycling. Time and required child care, core strength, hoo hah strength, cardiovascular fitness, blah, blah, blah. Let's be honest. The chief concern with post partum cyclists is the attire. Bike kits are not flattering unless you are really, really skinny. I don't mean thin or fit. I mean skinny, scrawny skinny to be exact. Most post partum women worry they will look to have a MUFFIN TOP. Don't let that stop you. Muffin tops are not that bad. I know. I have one and I get compliments on it all the time!

Remember a muffin top is the best part of a muffin!

Of note my mom says her asthma has never been better. Apparently it was 90 degrees, dry and dusty where they rode and she didn't have any feelings of airway restriction. I think the muffin top helps with this, but my mom says that it's the elevation of the hormone relaxin. I still think a muffin top is necessary at least to keep from bonking. If it was just a pregnancy hormone that helped the guys on the Tour De France would all be getting pregnant. I told this to my Mom. She disagreed and said although I was very wise I wouldn't understand a lot of things until much later in life.

Speaking of relaxing.

My Dad went for a sunset swim while my Mom and I hung out.

Next up my first Halloween!

6 Week check

Sorry I haven't blogged in 2 weeks. I realize I let 1/3 of my life pass before updating. I have been keeping a low profile.

Pink camouflage polka dots help me to keep things on the Down low. You probably want to know about training? I'm giving it my all. My life is not just fun and games. I do my tummy time everyday to work my arms, abs, and neck.

Mat work is hard work when you are only 6 weeks old. My mom says I have to start somewhere though. She says not to give up and a little bit everyday adds up to a lot. If I keep up the good efforts I'll get to do more than sit in my stroller while my Mommy splashes about.

It's developmental season. Meaning a week dedicated to each stroke. I understand this is the part of the year "the triathletes" hate. I have been in observance for 3 weeks now and I think when F KOB (Fly kick on back) is written on the board my Mom better not cheat and swim freestyle. I think it is the secret to getting back a strong core, that and maneuvering the stroller while running.

By the way my mom told me she once had "Buns of steel" This isn't a "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful" blog. I think she is referring to her booties ability to tolerate a bike seat. I offered her one of my diapers for extra padding. She declined saying she had the best bike shorts money could buy and it was time to harden up. Riding a bike maybe something one never forgets how to do but the bun muscles for sitting in the saddle do forget, making the booty feel a bit bruised and if you want to know the uncensored truth you can be medically clear to ride a bike long before certain dis- solvable substances otherwise known as stitches actually dissolve, apparently that can take a long, long time. To clarify, this does not leave you at risk for infection swimming after a certain period of time the skin epitheliazes. Anyhoo, moving along. The take away is finally riding other than on Fiesta Island, inside Torrey Pines is not a bad place to start.

In case you are wondering I am well cared for when she is off riding. I'm with my Dad. You can call him Papa Bear and me Cuddly Bear. Don't worry germophobes, those are clean scrubs. We were hanging out one morning before he went to work.

You could say I am a Daddy's girl.

They say I am an easy baby. I'll take a bottle of stored milk while my Mommy tools around on her bike. I guess some babies go on hunger strikes when their Mamma's leave. I also don't give my parents any trouble about sleeping at night. I sleep all night in my very own bassinet. From what I gather, this is something to celebrate. I'm not even on a special program from a book. I just did it all by myself.

Well ,with the help of my Dad's good swaddling and my good nutrition. I am up to 12 pounds now. I'd thank my Momma for that but rumor has it my good nutrition is the ticket not just to her skinny jeans. I'm helping strengthen her bones and reducing her chance for certain kinds of cancers. We'll call it team work. What can I say? My life is great. It is fun to be me!

Today we celebrated my 6 week birthday with a 7 mile run from Fanuel park. I had to stop eat, go to the bathroom and be cuddled at the midway point. My mom told me that I am exactly like an Ironman triathlete. They eat on the go, have to stop to use the rest room. The needing to be cuddled... well my mom said that is nothing different than the support the athletes get from the crowd. She said Ironman even has a special needs stop. I am in good company.

My mom loves taking me places. Sometimes she worries she might be overstimulating me. It's a little confusing to her because there are so many different takes on how to raise a baby. I think, and I'm only 6 weeks old, so take it or leave it, that every parent just wants to do the best for their child. None are really sure what that is and every child is different. Parents tend to get behind their chosen tactic by selling it to others and sometimes bashing different approaches. It's hard for them not be insecure because they love us babies so much.

Judging from the picture I sure seem enjoy taking things in.

4 Weeks Old: A day in the life

4 weeks ago I looked like this:

Impressive when 24 weeks ago I looked like this:

Now that I am 4 weeks old, I see the world a little differently.

No wonder my parents call me Baby Bright Eyes.

I am growing big and strong! Currently, I weigh 11 lbs

That's about what my mom has left to loose. High Five to that I say. She says the scale might be stuck for a while, but whatever. She has got me! We are having fun. Plus, she is starting to feel stronger and less winded while running and just in general carrying me around.

Before I was born she read a lot about raising kids. We had a heart to heart and we see eye to eye. Routine and flexible structure are key for us. Life is too short to waste time that could be enjoyed watching a clock saying " No baby....you can't eat, sleep, play, whatever for 10 more minutes because it is not your schedule. For example, some books say the baby needs to go to bed at 6:00 p.m. or s/he will be behind in school. Hmm, not sure either of my parents went to bed st 6:00 p.m. and I think they might have done OK academically speaking. My Mom thinks a 6:00 p.m. would be a recipe to exclude my Dad and a recipe to be up at 2:00 a.m.

My Mom is confident in the "Sniff Test." She takes recommendations from those who pass the sniff test. There were some really great resources while we were in the hospital and a few....Meh! Not so bueno. Anyway, she really likes the lactation consultant and the pediatrician, and her obstetrician. So their advice, her gut, and of course my Dad's gut ;) is how we will roll rather than basing my rearing on a book for sale for profit on Amazon.com. Whatever works for you and your family though.

So here is a day in my life and I think it is pretty swell. We have a good routine we going. Of course I am growing and it is subject to change but we aren't inflexible. That would be dumb!. Every morning we go to the pool now. We try to get there at 7:30 but sometimes we don"t make it until 8:00 a.m. It's not realistic to expect we will always be on time with 2 people to feed and dress before 7:00 a.m. Plus, my Mom feeds me up until the last minute so I don't bonk at swim. Traffic is a culprit too, if we leave after 7:00 a.m it takes twice as long to get there. The coaches at swim are really great and they keep an eye on me while my Mom swims. They only need to let my Mom know if I am crying and she doesn't hear me. However, they go above and beyond. If they see my eyes open they push me around the pool deck. I have a feeling this is going to help my math. I already understand base, base -5 and base + 5. I know 4 lengths is 100 yards. That the north side of the pool doesn't swim as fast as the south lanes but I refrain from passing judgement.

I sleep good at the pool and sometimes after I am still sleepy and my Mom takes me to Whole Foods or Henry's. I like that. She often buys me a treat like diaper cream or something like that. I'm pretty limited now in what I can have. When we get home I eat and they we PLAY. I like to be held so she puts me in the Moby wrap. It is snuggly. I'm teaching her how to do a lot with one hand. I think it will help her off road bike handling. My mom usually has to eat with me in the Moby wrap. Hah, she has to be careful doing that. It would be a little embarrassing for me to be carted around with crumbs in my wrap! Spit up is one thing for a baby, hummus is another!

Eventually I usually take another nap. I usually do this while we are sitting in a comfy chair together. I try to cast a sleeping spell on whoever is with me and get them to nap with me. I am pretty successful at this game.

Later in the afternoon, we head out for an hour ish in the BOB. My mom runs but not real fast. If my Dad gets off early he pushes the BOB and we go WAY faster.

On Thursday afternoons we go to a Mom's group/ lactation class to check my growth and answer any questions my Mom has. We like the leader and the other people in the group. I think it's a fun outing.
Then I eat a bunch more times until it's bedtime. Sometimes I eat every hour. I have even eaten every 10 minutes during a grwoth spirt. It's like endurance training, only eating.

Twice, I have slept through the night. Sometimes though, I like to get up at 3:00 -4:00 a.m. and practice making monkey noises. I hear my parents talking about the San Diego Zoo and how they can never take me there or they will be accused of smuggling me. I figure my Dad gets up at 5:00 am for work so if I get up at 3-4:00 a.m. It is a good time to play. Right? Plus, maybe if I make enough monkey sounds they will give bananna. I think I would like that.

In the evening, my Dad gives me one bottle and swaddles me up tight for sleep. If it is cold I wear a hat to bed. I like my hats.

The layers in this picture may have been increased for photographic pleasure.

So Cal Epic Fat Tire 50

Sorry folks I have been so busy I forgot to write my Dad's race report for him. I'm too young to race or train but I am allowed to watch, write, and dream BIG!

So last Saturday my Dad got up early, made pancakes and drove his car about 50 miles to ride his bike 50 miles in hopes of a prize or something. Did I mention the course is off road, hilly and 106 degrees.Oh yeah and he rode a bike with one gear.

Call me a baby but why did he do all this when he can drive a car?

Anyway the course was about the same as last year, except a little bit better. They removed one deep sandy sloggy section. I didnt get to go watch as my mom thought it was too hot and sunny for me. I wanted to go. Look, I would have podiumed again!

Hmm, she keeps me out of the sun and gives me Vitamin D drops. Seems like I just could spend some time in the sun but I don't make the rules. She took me to the UCSD Master's Fall pancake breakfast.
My friend Lauren and I got primo stroller parking. We were right next to the pancake table. Boy did it smell good . I could't wait for the workout to end and the pancakes to be served.

Unfortunately, after an hour spent dozing and dreaming about those sweet cakes I learned I am not old enough to eat pancakes. Oh brother!

Life Is Grand!

Hello there. It's me again, Annika Ruth Neuschwander. I'm covering for my mom because she thinks she is too busy.So I am 3and 1/2 weeks old now and I have come to the conclusion that life is grand.

See there are these nice people in my life called grandparents. They are like my parents but older and frankly more fun. All they do is love on me. I met my Grandpa and Grandma Neuschwander the day I was born. I hope to see them again soon.