Happy 5 months baby girl!!

 

 My sweet pea you are getting smarter and more clever each day!

 

Zoe can roll over from tummy to back (and will do it EVERY TIME-- she still hates tummy time). She can pull herself up to a sitting position with minimal assistance and can even push her legs up to a standing position with our help. She weighs 16lbs 8oz and eats between 5-6 ounces of formula per feeding. She had her first taste of solid food - Avocado! .. wasn't a fan. She got her first cold and because she had such a hard time shaking it, the doctor recommended using a nebulizer. Z is very vocal and has an almost unbelievably loud screech. She is so alert and loves to reach out and touch the face of whomever is carrying her (and if they're lucky, she'll lean in further and give a hug!)

Avocado take - 1

Avocado take - 2 (much better!)



 

 

 



From Ms. to Mrs ..My sister's wedding!

Miss Z had her first mini vacation last weekend. We packed up all of our gear (with a baby this means: bottle warmer, Pack and Play, Tub etc..) and checked in to the Deauville hotel on Miami Beach for my sister's long awaited nuptials. We arrived Friday May 3rd in the afternoon and got a room with a spectacular view!

 I spent Saturday night with the bride because I knew it would be the only time we'd have to catch up.. Weddings are always so "go, go, go"!

 

The next morning we woke up bright and early. My sister was off to the salon and I was off to spend time with my squishy.



Bath time in paradise



Mom and Sister

 Zoe came out to greet everyone for a few minutes but it wasn't long until it was time for her bed time and she was cranky. M and Z spent most of the wedding in their jammies in our room. Cause folks, that's how it goes when you have an infant ;)

 

My first Mother's Day

My Biggest aspiration in life is to be as good a mother to my daughter as my mother was to me.

 

My first Mother's Day was beautiful! The weather was gorgeous and we had brunch with my in laws at Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Coral Gables. Since my mom worked that day, we had brunch with her at home the day before.

There was an Italian theme.

 After brunch we took a stroll around the garden and into the butterfly conservatory.

A butterfly landing on M's hand

Lucky me! A butterfly on my shoulder

 The sun and all the excitement must of gotten the best of Zoe 'cause she knocked out!

 

 



Weekend Recap

What a crazy/fun/active/family-filled weekend we had!

I'm exhausted, but it was all worth it. 

 

It all started on Friday night when I had a final rehearsal with Wa Nour al Ayun (dance company that I am part of). We had a performance on Saturday and needed to do a final run through and dress rehearsal. I put miss Z down to bed at 9:00 PM and arrived to practice at 10:00 PM (yup you read that right - when you have a bebe, these are your rehearsal times,lol). We didn't realize how much work had to be done so rehearsals ran until 3 AM! By then we were less graceful and starting to resemble zombies..

The next morning I had an early start in preparation for the event. It was hair and makeup then off to the Miami- Dade Cultural Center and Library. By the time I arrived (11ish) the sun was BLAZING! I was escorted back stage aka the Library's office and asked to be ready to perform in 15. The turn out was excellent and I was so excited to see all the activities they had setup for the kids. Although I never found her, I heard even Mother Goose was there to read to the kiddies.

 

Moments after we were escorted to the stage and our song came on... that's when all traces of happiness came to a hault. It turned out that due to the scorture that was Miami and the lack of tent or shade, the dance floor was like an oven top. I remember at one point during my first song I told myself... "I can't handle this, I can't handle this ... will anyone notice if I just walk off stage". When the set had finished and I limped in pain back to the office, I was greeted with fat blisters all over the bottom of my feet. It was miserable but the show had to go on. Luckily we all brought our rehearsal dance shoes and were able to salvage our feet during the next set.

 

As we were getting ready to go back on, M and my squishy showed up!

 Z had so much fun looking at all the sights and getting lots of loving from her dance aunties.

 

That night we celebrated M's mom's birthday at a restaurant in the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk. The night was so beautiful and breezy. Zoe was exhausted from all the fun.

 

On Sunday we started off our day with a class at Gymboree. Sundays at Gymboree is our new favorite, the place is DEAD! Z had her very own private class!! We had so much fun.

Good morning! Time to see Gymbo!

Then it was off to the mall to look for a dress for Z to wear to my sister's wedding next week.What a mission!! It's like they don't make evening wear for babies under 12 months. We did end up getting a g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s gown from JCP and I cant wait to show her off in it!

 

That evening we had a BBQ at my aunt's house. Everyone is starting to arrive for the wedding and the excitement is building!

Challenge: Accepted! Let's get rid of this mommy pooch!

 

For the past two years I've been a fan of Karena and Katrina, owners of Tone It Up. When I saw on Instagram that they were rolling out their third annual Bikini Series I knew that it was time to put down the red velvet cupcake and get serious about tackling the sad, lingering, post c-section pooch. Yo, it's been 4 months! 

 

I know what you're thinking - so you came to your senses 1 week and a half away from your sister's wedding, isn't that a little late? Why, yes. Yes it is.

 

It may be too late to get a bikini body by my sister's wedding, but it's never to late to regain my health, get off the couch and get active! So although I'll still be rocking my pooch down the isle next week, I'll know that I will be taking the steps towards a leaner and healthier me.

 

I want to do my best to blog and stay focused for the next 8 weeks. The rewards will be innumerable: getting back to dance, regain my confidence and most importantly being the best mommy I can be.

 

I know M, if I were to voice my intentions he'd probably say that he's heard it before.
So i'll keep my fitness journals online and away from those judgy eyes (he'd never be caught dead reading my blog, lol).

 

Wish me luck!

"Think and Wonder, Wonder and Think" - Dr. Seuss

Happy 4 Months Baby Girl!

 It's spring time and my little flower is blossoming into a little person. Zoe loves to smile especially with her cousins and aunts. She is starting to do "baby crunches" while on our lap to pull herself into a sitting position. She's discovered her feet and is constantly munching on them. She started sleeping in her own crib but is still dependant on her swaddle to soothe her. She is a rambler - she'll bah, bah, bah to anyone who will listen. At her 4 month appointment she got her second round of shots (which gave her her first fever). She is weighing 15lbs 8oz. She is still drinking 4oz per feeding, except for her last bottle of the night in which she downs 6oz!

 

 

Last fling before the ring!

This weekend was my sister's (Melissa) bachelorette party. Her BFF rented a room at the hotel where the wedding will be and we had so much fun (secretive, can't-ever-tell-my-husband-what-we-did fun!)

 Hope you can keep a secret! ;)

On this day, last year..



Dear Sophie..

Get in my mouth!

 

~Love, Zoe

Zoe loving her Sophie the Giraffe toy

 

Zoe's First Easter

This weekend was Easter and it's incredible to think that last year M and I spent Easter weekend in Disney announcing our pregnancy to his mom.

 

The weekend got off to a shaky start because on Saturday I had a terrible stomach virus (darn you hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant!). Thank god for Mark, who morphed into super dad and took care of Z and I all day. Sunday morning I had every intention to wake up early and make it to the first service at church, but when you have a sweet little bunny snuggling with you in bed.. it's hard to get up! Since we didn't make it to the first service we decided to grab breakfast first at a Dominican restaurant near our house. I'm glad it worked out this way because we had the time to truly enjoy our meal and not be rushed. Plus, the place was empty which is rare find on Easter Sunday.

 

When we arrived to church the place was packed! So packed that all 800+ chairs were taken and we had to watch the service via television in an adjoining conference room. M was nervous about how Z would react to her first visit to church (the people, the noise, the lights) but she slept the entire time. Everyone who we passed was, of course, smitten with our little lady. One sister at the church even noting how calm Zoe was while I changed her Pamper and adjusted her stockings. What can I say? The girl is used to wearing her accessories!

  After church my stomach was still acting up so we went back home to relax.

 

Later on that evening we received a call from M's parents wanting to see Z. They were at a restaurant close to home so we stopped by.