7 months postpartum…
Some days I feel like one hot mama…
and others I let my insecurities get the best of me.
My post baby weight loss is at a standstill.
Everything I’ve lost so far has come off from nursing, chasing kids and
going to the gym “ever so often.” I eat healthy but haven’t gone crazy over it.
I am realizing that getting my body back after my 3rd baby is going to take
more effort than with my first two! With them, I nursed it ALL off.
But Micah doesn’t nurse as much (shocking I know.)
I’m really trying to love myself more… and that means to take time to get healthy…
but even more, to not focus on the “problem” areas every time I see a photo of myself.
Harder said than done!
I am so not brave enough to post a photo of me with no makeup…
but this is with a swipe of foundation. As natural as I can go…
and this is a big step for me!!!! haha. (I feel lame, but its’ true.)
These sweet little ones are the reasons for
my under eye circles…
the stretch marks..
the dirty hair on top of my head.
Totally worth it.
This post is for all the mamas who are feeling like me!
You are beautiful and courageous and sacrificial.
Try to love yourself today…and realize that God looks at you
and is so in love. Like insanely in love with you.
And He sees the things you have given up or had to bear…
and He takes note of each and every hardship or cross you have carried.
From the big sufferings in life that can leave us feeling worn…
to the “small” crosses of longggggg nights up with WIDE AWAKE babies. ;)
I hope that my inner beauty will shine through…
past my blemishes and squeezy arms. ;)
I hope that I can learn to see the beauty in myself that God sees in me.
I hope that insecurities never hold me back.
and that my girls learn to love themselves…..
by seeing their mama love herself.
“You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.”
Song of Solomon 4:7
“You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated
my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.”
Song of Solomon 4:9
Azucena Zamora
June 17, 2013 at 3:05 pmAmazing…you’re a great mother. I can relate to the little makeup. I am lucky if I even get to straighten or curl my hair…buns have been my best friends :)
Val
June 17, 2013 at 3:07 pmLove this postpartum body post. Im 3 wks out from my due date with baby #2 so getting my body back has been on my mind a lot lately. This is just what I needed to read today. Thanks!!
Wasatchmama
June 17, 2013 at 3:17 pmThank you for this. I love your blog. Just had my third boy last week and I think it’s beautiful that you reminded us mothers how much God loves us. You look wonderful.
Kerri@ Elbow Deep in Someone Else's Sh*t
June 17, 2013 at 3:22 pmWow, I just have to say that you look AMAZING! I understand what you mean though, I think one of the best but also the hardest parts of being a mom has been learning to love myself. Whenever I start getting down about how I look post babies, I try to remind myself that there’s probably someone out there looking at me and thinking “hey, that chic doesn’t look too bad!”
Jonie Foster
June 17, 2013 at 3:29 pmI am 6 monts post pardum and I, too, am in the same boat. However, breast feeding just keeps me at a standstill rather than helps me lose weight. So I am on the road to learning to love myself more, too! Keep it up!
Anonymous
June 17, 2013 at 3:55 pmUmm you must just be feeling frumpy bc you always look SO great! You’re my inspiration to actually wear make up…. I dont wear make up…but I work for a skin care company and we are kind of required to wear it for showcasing, and also bc I look 12 without it. Lol
I didn’t lose all of my baby weight until 15 mos pp and by that time I had given up. It just dropped like 10lbs in a few weeks, I was like oh wow lol when I randomly weighed myself.
BFing did not help me either. Where I come from, they say BFing keeps you at the same weight or makes you gain bc you lose so many calories, you just want to eat to get some energy. In America, they say you lose weight, and my mom said that’s just to encourage Americans to breastfeed bc they are driven by physical appearance.
Michele Chronister
June 17, 2013 at 3:58 pmI feel like every mom I know (myself included) feels this way about themselves…but looks at other mamas and just don’t see those flaws! Like, all my friends have totally different body types but I think they all are beautiful…but you can bet that I don’t feel beautiful alot of days!! Thanks for a post reminding us to go easier on ourselves ;-)
Crystal Barrett
June 17, 2013 at 5:06 pmI am so glad I found this post today. It is just what I needed to hear and honestly… I am tearing up a little. I have a 6 month old, 2nd baby, and I am also having a tough time with my “new” body. I will be saving your blog to my computer to come back and read more of you :) Thank you so much for that little uplift today!
Meagan
June 17, 2013 at 5:21 pmLove this! Sharing with my mom friends on Facebook!
Jessy28
June 17, 2013 at 6:02 pmThank you for this! It seriously brought years to my eyes. I had three babies in 3 and half years (3 year old girl, 2 year old girl, and a 7 month baby boy). My body is totally showing it! I’ve been working out six days a week to get my body back to prebaby but its slowly sinking in that it will take a while before I see anything resembling my pre-baby body.
Mandy
June 17, 2013 at 7:38 pmI swear that reading your blog some nights is what enables me to go into the next day with smiles for my daughter and husband. You help me remember to put everything into perspective!!
Megan
June 17, 2013 at 8:39 pmI love this post!! Every time I see your IG pics I always think WOW, she always look so beautiful! How does she have it all together with 3 kids and working from home?! You really inspire me! :)
Anonymous
June 17, 2013 at 9:24 pmJust what I needed to read on a day when I had to put on a bathing suit 4 months postpartum and was disgusted with how I looked. Thanks for putting things in perspective :)
Julie Rogers
June 17, 2013 at 9:40 pmI could have written this post with the same exact feelings. Just had my third, three months ago. Sitting in the same clothes that I put on at 7 am with intentions to work out, but that didn’t happen. No make up, no brushing my hair, and definitely tired eyes:) Thanks for reminding me that I’m not the only one!
Julie
http://www.thechirpingmoms.com
Tanya Fitzgerald
June 17, 2013 at 10:32 pmI LOVE that you quoted scripture!! Song of Solomon 4:7 is up in my bathroom to ever remind me that I am precious in HIS eyes! Thanks for being faithful in sharing biblical truth!!
~ Mrs. Fitzgerald
Tanya Fitzgerald
June 17, 2013 at 10:34 pmI LOVE that you posted scripture!! Song of Solomon 4:7 is up in my bathroom to constantly remind me that I am precious in HIS eyes! Thanks for sharing the TRUTH :)
Blessings,
Tanya
Jodi
June 17, 2013 at 10:52 pmYou look great! I thought you looked great when I met you at Blissdom and that was right after you had a baby! Keep on chasing those kids and I’m sure you’ll get back to pre baby body someday!! :)
Innovare
June 17, 2013 at 11:44 pmThanks a lot! You really encourage me. I have feel the same, I`m mom of two beautiful girls, I spend all my day taking care of them without help and it`s really hard but amazing too. When I read your post I felt the God love! Thanks again :) Bless you
Innovare
June 17, 2013 at 11:45 pmThanks a lot! You really encourage me. I have feel the same, I`m mom of two beautiful girls, I spend all my day taking care of them without help and it`s really hard but amazing too. When I read your post I felt the God love! Thanks again :) Bless you
Innovare
June 17, 2013 at 11:45 pmThanks a lot! You really encourage me. I have feel the same, I`m mom of two beautiful girls, I spend all my day taking care of them without help and it`s really hard but amazing too. When I read your post I felt the God love! Thanks again :) Bless you
Kristin Stewart
June 18, 2013 at 10:04 amI teared up a bit reading this. I needed to read this so bad. I am right there in that place with you. Thanks.
Abby @ Just a Girl and Her Blog
June 18, 2013 at 2:02 pmI had to giggle to myself as I read this because when we met this weekend I was thinking, “These girls are so gorgeous, and here I am with my cellulite and extra pudge left from baby!” You are beautiful, and I absolutely love your perspective! Thanks for this post!!
~Abby =)
femmefrugality
June 18, 2013 at 2:34 pmOh, love this! First of all you are GORGEOUS! But I’m going through the same thing right now…trying to be okay with the standstill and okay with the fact that life is crazy and I may not be able to get in an official work-out each day.
Krista
June 18, 2013 at 3:59 pmSo beautiful Natalie! What an encouragement to all the mamas out there! Even though it’s been 4 years since I had a baby (geez that long?) I am still working on loving my stretch marks ;) I’m slowly getting used to the new me though :)
Meg
June 20, 2013 at 10:06 amI’ve definitely felt the same. My daughter is 8 months old and even though I’ve lost all my baby weight, my body still looks and feels different. I need to remember not to get caught up in what it used to look like, but that I was wonderfully created by an awesome God. Thanks for the reminder! And by the way, you look fantastic!