I just dropped Finn off at preschool with very teary eyes. After I write this post and get packed up, I am leaving for Tennessee for the first weekend of 200-hour yoga teacher training at VIDA Hot Yoga. Over the course of the next four months, I’ll travel to VIDA seven weekends to lead their teacher training program.
VIDA HOT YOGA TEACHER TRAINING!
I started working with VIDA last year when the studio was a little over a year old and looking to host their first teacher training program so that they could get instructors trained to teach. The studio is located in a smaller market, and it’s the only yoga studio in town. I adore the studio and its community of yogis. And I truly respect the owners and how they run their business. It’s been an incredible experience to work with VIDA and I can’t wait to continue to grow with them.
Gosh, I’m having all the feels today remembering our first training weekend last September when Finn was just four months old. He came to almost all of the weekends with me.
Looking back on it, I have no idea how I organized and led a teacher training and traveled solo with a baby. I would prep meals and all the gear we needed before we left, drive 3.5 hours to Kingsport, stop on the way to nurse Finn, unload all the baby gear at the studio, take breaks from training to feed Finn, bring him back to the hotel, do it all again the next day and then journey home. I can honestly say that I loved those weekends so much. It’s kind of crazy the superhuman strength and resourcefulness that you can find within yourself.
I am going to miss my little travel buddy this weekend but will definitely admit that all of the logistics will be much easier without him. I am already counting down the minutes until I see his cute face on Sunday evening.
UPDATE ON WEANING + FIRST POSTPARTUM PERIOD
Speaking of Finn and nursing and traveling. I had a loose goal in my head to have Finn weaned by the time teacher training started at VIDA. I had zero interest in dealing with pumping and traveling again. While we are actively working towards weaning, we’re not quite there yet. We’re in the process of dropping his mid-day, pre-nap feed and then I anticipate that we’ll do morning and evening for a couple of months before we fully wean.
I have taken the pressure around pumping off of myself when Finn isn’t with me and I do it as little as possible without worrying about my supply. That said, I have experienced a drop in supply and this week I got my first postpartum menstrual cycle. Let me just tell you, welcoming that back after a two year hiatus has kind of rocked my world. I have felt off both physically and hormonally this week…and I’ve definitely been extra emotional.
That was a lot of personal info but I know that so many of you are in similar baby/toddler stages and appreciate hearing about this stuff.
If you want to read more about my pumping/breastfeeding journey check out this post and if you want to read my tips for pumping/breastfeeding, check out this post.
Just for the record, cake helps. Laurel Market, it had been too long.
FINN + ZOEY = BEST FRIENDS
I can’t tell you guys enough how much Finn loves Zoey. He is obsessed with her! The moment he walks in the front door of the house he’s waving and saying “Hey Zoe.” The moment his eyes open in the morning he’s looking for her and waving at her. He sits next to her while she eats. He lounges and rests his head on her all the time. It’s so, so sweet.
I made a video that I posted to my private IG account but I had to share it here too. You have to have the sound on so you can hear all of his “Hey Zoe” and “Oh Zoe.” ALL.DAY.LONG!
I’m happy for this bond that they share but it also makes me miss Sullie girl every single day.
DO YOU EVEN POST RECIPES OR WORKOUTS ANY MORE?
Some of you are probably wondering where the workouts and recipes have gone. Now that Finn is in preschool a few mornings a week, I have a goal to cook, shoot and post one recipe a week (maybe every other week).
I’m still posting a lot of workouts but they’re mostly on Instagram. I just had someone ask me this week if there was any way to save and print from Instagram and the best suggestion I had was a screenshot. So that being said, do you guys like it when I post workouts on my blog that have more detail and can easily be printed or do you prefer Instagram? Would it help if I posted them in both places?
Okay, time to pack up and get on the road. Have a great weekend friends!
Did you cycle change after having a baby? Did it come back while you were still breastfeeding or after you weaned?
Preferences for recipes and workouts? What kind of recipes would you like to see? Where do you want to see workouts? Help me help you…haha! 🙂
I hope your weekend at VIDA goes well! I am sure it’s hard to be away from your little buddy, though!
My cycle came back around 7 month PP. But our son didn’t nurse well so I exclusively pumped. I think EPers get their cycle back sooner for some reason. I was still producing quite a bit of milk – upwards of 40 oz/day at that time!! I hope the weaning process goes ok for you guys. That was something I never had to deal with since I pumped so I guess it was kind of easier? I was done pumping at 10 months as I got a flu bug that wiped out my supply and I knew I had enough frozen to get our son to 1 year. I actually ended up having enough to get him to 13 months. He transitioned to whole milk super easily and then went through a huge growth spurt between 12 and 15 months so I am convinced that I made ‘skim milk’. Ha. He’s still on the small size even with that growth spurt so maybe it had nothing to do with my milk. Who knows! I was so so so so happy to be done pumping and I can say I would never EP again. It was a great gift to give to my son but it was very hard on me as there is nothing special about hooking yourself up to a pump like Bessy the cow. 😉 When/if we have our 2nd, I hope he or she nurses better!
Lisa, I honestly cannot even fathom how you EP’d for 10 months. It’s so intense when you’re having to pump so many times a day…such a process and like you said…not fun to feel like Bessy the Cow. You are amazing for doing that for your sweet boy!
Omg. That video of Finn and Zoe makes my heart melt. So Sweet!!!!!
They are the best of friends. <3
I’d love to see recipes that you like that are also potentially toddler friendly. My daughter is just a few months younger than Finn and we’re struggling with healthy food that doesn’t take too long!
Got it! 🙂
I weaned my daughter at fifteen months and my cycle did not return until 18 months. Now with my son who just turned one we are still nursing 3-4 times a day and starting to move towards weaning. I’m noticing a lot of hormonal changes like being more emotional and even sad. Weaning is so rough. I love the breastfeeding relationship but I also look forward to more freedom.
Gosh, I know. One of the (many) reasons why I haven’t weaned yet is because I’ve heard that the hormone/emotional adjustment after can be really, really hard. I, too, love the breastfeeding relationship but am also looking forward to more freedom.
Just want to add for your readers it is a common misconception that periods stay gone while breastfeeding. I exclusively bf 2 of my children for a full year+ and got my periods back at 2 months and 3 months. Everyone’s body is different, but wanted to be sure I added that here because.
Thank you so much for sharing this! Super helpful and important to note! You are so right that every single woman’s body is different.
My cycle didn’t come back until after I weaned my kids – it was about 4-6 weeks after each of them. Crazy how our bodies work!
I don’t use Instagram and would love to see workouts on the blog – some of my favorites that I do at home are from your blog posts! I usually copy and save them to Evernote.
Awesome, I will make sure to post to both places!
I would prefer to have you post workout on both Instagram and your blog. If they’re on your blog then I can pin them to Pinterest and they’re easier for me to find after the fact.
Wonderful, thanks for the feedback!
I don’t have an instagram account. I look at yours from time to time for workouts but would definitely prefer to have them posted on your blog to pin for later. That video was so sweet! I’m glad you have the opportunity to travel and work solo. It will be so refreshing for you!
Awesome, I will keep up with the blog workouts!
Just wanted to add that you can bookmark an Instagram post to refer to later on!
I have a 15 month old and plan to wean at 18 months… I also haven’t had my cycle return yet, but would like to try for kid 2 soon!
I look at both blogs and Instagram, but when searching for things like recipes or workouts, I tend to look at blogs.
Thanks so much for this feedback, it’s helpful! How exciting to try for #2!!!
We are down to just before nap and before bed nursing (she is 14 months) eventually I will drop the before nap and see how that goes and then the before bed. I was able to drop any middle of the night feeds a few weeks ago, phew! Now if she wakes she is happy with snuggle and rock. With that being said my cycle came back at 9 months. It was like 18 periods in one !! It’s become back to normal now though!
I love your slow weaning approach and it sounds like it’s working great for y’all! Finn has mostly dropped the middle of the night feed but very occasionally still needs it. Good to hear that cycles get back to normal because that first one is no joke.
You’re both going to have a great weekend and Finn will be welcoming you home with open arms! Thank you for sharing the video. If that’s not the sweetest thing I’ve seen all week. He loves his Zoe. ❤️ Enjoy these moments. The days are long but the years are short.
These moments are the sweetest. <3
My first PP period after my first baby was sooo much volume, when a typical period for me has always been medium to low volume. But they quickly became my norm again. My first PP period after each of my three children came at 15, 15, and 16 months respectively, and I was still nursing each at that point. I do recall experiencing the dip in supply at each period, but I continued to nurse each until 28, 23, and 30 months, respectively. My first PP period after my second and third child wasn’t as strong, for whatever reason.
You are great at putting workouts together and I appreciate the quality that you share. I would love to see some new yoga flow videos, in real time, with music. That’s asking a lot, but since you asked for the feedback… Thanks for all that you give to your work!
Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s encouraging!
I know I need to post more yoga videos. They’re just a lot to make and produce. Also, I can’t do music with them because of copyright issues!
Please take time to learn dog body language. Zoey is very sweet and tolerant but is clearly wanting to have some space in the video. Please start teaching your son to respect her space.
Hey Sarah! Thanks so much for this comment, as it’s something I’m trying to be REALLY mindful of! I don’t let Finn climb on Zoey or pull on her…EVER!
It’s so hard to know what is okay and what isn’t. I Googled the dog body language and looked at multiple articles. I watched the video over and over again but Zoey is relaxed in her posture and just chewing on her ball. I know Zoey and this is happy Zoey. She never looked up at me like “WTF mom!?” She and Finn have a really awesome relationship and she follows him everywhere and they’re always close. I guess I figure she will leave the room if she needs space. I’m glad you brought this to my attention and it’s something that I will continue to monitor and educate myself on, as I want Zoey to love Finn as much as Finn loves her. <3
Zoey and Finn are going to be great friends.
I would love to have detailednworkputs on your blog.
As for recipes, Good dinner recipes including fish would be great.
Always looking for new ideas.
Thank you thank you for this feedback! It’s helpful!
love the video! So sweet! I don’t do instagram, so I would love to see your workouts on your blog. Thanks for all the great content you provide us.
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!
Long time reader. I’m an avid runner, yogi, and body pumper. Currently trying to force myself to practice the primary series too. ( when someone has proficiency with ashtanga, it’s so amazing to watch.) that being said- is there anyway you might consider posting full length/follow along power yoga flows or weight workouts? I’m thankful that you post content on your blog and insta pages, but YouTube posts/streaming service would be phenomenal. Love everything you’re trying to accomplish. You should be extremely proud of yourself. If you ever do a teacher training in Texas, I’m there!
P.s. My condolences on the passing of your sweet dog. I have an affectionate lap cat that isn’t long for this world and am in agony thinking about her current decline.
That is the cutest video! It reminds me so much of my son (almost 11 mos) and our dog. He has recently become all about the dogs and it is the sweetest. The little dog is skiddish around him and won’t let him get too close but the larger dog doesn’t mind at all if he lays on him or pets him. Still working on “Gentle, gentle” but he’s done really well and you can tell how much they love each other – so similar to your babies! That is a relationship that will only grow stronger and will be so cool to watch blossom! Thanks for sharing!!