still here

Hi, friends. I have been quite delinquent these past two weeks about posting. Jared keeps bugging me to post something, but I've been wanting to post photos and have just haven't gotten around to getting them from the camera to the computer and going through them. I promise to do that soon. Asher is so darn adorable. I don't want to deprive you of his cuteness. I have been checking all of your blogs on a semi-regular basis even though I rarely comment. It's just that I usually am feeding the babe during my online browsing and typing one-handed takes forever. Rest assured that I still love you.

Speaking of Asher... at three weeks old he continues to be a really good baby. He only gets fussy for no reason in the evenings and it's pretty easy to calm him down. He just likes being held. And seriously, who can blame him for that? He's been used to being curled up in my tummy so of course he wants to be held close. He also eats like a champ and is now about 9 pounds. Unfortunately, he is still yellow. And we still have that darn bili blanket. Jaundice is very prevalent in my family. My dad even has what's called Gilbert's Syndrome. He gets a little jaundiced when he is sick. My mom's dad has it too, so basically I'm doomed from both sides of my family. I and all my siblings were all jaundiced as babies too. They just make a bigger deal about it these days.

So life is good. My days are filled with lots of nursing, cuddling, and Olympics watching. I've been staying up way too late watching swimming and gymnastics the past two nights. Isn't Michael Phelps incredible?! I love the Olympics.

And now to change the subject... I just read this article on MSNBC called "Celebrity Mamas Fuel Post-baby Blues" It caught my eye for obvious reasons. Basically it talks about how celebrity moms get tons of attention for losing their baby weight super fast and that sets unrealistic expectations for real moms. I totally agree with that. The postpartum body is most certainly not the same. I wonder on a daily basis where my ab muscles have disappeared to and how long it will take the stretch marks to begin fading. But overall I feel fairly good about myself. I can still wear some of my pre-pregnancy clothes. There is something to be said for this being my first baby and being in my 20s. But I certainly will not be sporting a bikini any time soon (ever). I am not in any hurry to begin cutting calories. I need food to make food for my growing boy. I'm going to let my body do it's thing. It grew a healthy baby, got that baby out, and now is the sole means of sustenance for said baby. Isn't that amazing?! I think mothers should celebrate what their bodies are capable of instead of feeling bad about not looking the same as they did before their babies. What do you think? For those of you have had babies, what has your body image been like afterward? Do you feel pressure to get back in shape quickly? Do you pay attention to all the celebrity moms and compare yourself to them?