Q & A

Thanks for your post ideas and questions!  I figured I’d address them all at once in a Q & A format:

I would be interested in your fitness routine now that you’re a mom.

Throughout my pregnancy and the first year of Emerson’s life, I mostly did Popsugar Fitness videos at home (HIIT style and weight lifting) and went to the gym for yoga, barre, or HIIT maybe once a week. I had an awesome space to work out in our Dallas home and found this more convenient when I was working and had a young baby. The workouts are awesome and are really all you need. Now, I live above a YMCA, so it’s super easy to go to classes and Emerson enjoys the child care (plus, I got tired of using nap time for workouts when I could be relaxing or getting other things accomplished.)  I usually take GRIT Cardio (HIIT, no weights), a spin class, and a total body conditioning (with weights) each week.  On the other days, I run/walk with the BOB, do a Popsugar video, or take a yoga class on weekends; I try to work out 5 days a week.

It would be cool to hear about what your experience has been like making new friends in NYC, whether you’ve joined any moms groups, and how you’re feeling about being home with your daughter now that you guys are a bit more settled.

My neighborhood has a great Facebook group for information, but it’s not really a mom’s group. I’ve found that a majority of the people I’ve met work, so it’s been challenging to make friends.  The couple of moms I hang with during the week are people I saw consistently in my gym classes, the hall of my apartment, or at the park. I still miss working occasionally; but I find every day that I stay home, I miss work less and less (I’ve heard that the longer you stay home, the harder it becomes to go back). I’m not sure if it was Emerson’s developmental stage or just all the newness of the move, but 15-19 months were hard. We’re in a rhythm now, and I’m absolutely loving hanging out with Emerson now that she’s talking, and especially since it’s summer and lovely outside. That being said, I do plan to work part-time again in the next couple of years.

Have you guys thought about moving to an NYC suburb if you miss suburban living?

I don’t think we’re quite ready for suburban living, but I do miss all the conveniences of having a car and being able to grocery shop, drive to normal shopping centers, etc.  We don’t plan to be in NYC very long, but if for some reason we need to stay, we would likely consider one of the surrounding towns.

I would love to see the recipe for your sweet potato and black bean casserole.

This is essentially Emily’s recipe from Daily Garnish but with sweet potato and no homemade sauce. I use store bought green enchilada sauce, 2 medium sweet potatoes, and mix in a can of green chilies.  The reason it turned into a casserole is because I often can’t find good gluten free tortillas that are big enough for enchiladas.  So, I sometimes use small corn tortillas and layer them with the filling like a lasagna.  It’s delicious to top the whole thing with pepper jack cheese.

What sunscreen do you use on Emerson?

I use any of the baby/kids zinc-only sunscreens that are available at Target, Whole Foods, etc. I like Goddess Garden and the Babyganics stick (some of the other Babyganics kinds aren’t zinc-only). The Environmental Working Group has a great guide where you can check sunscreen safety.

What time does Em go to bed and how do you get her to take three hour naps?

She goes to bed at 7:30, but lately it’s been trending towards 8.  I’d say 2 hour naps are the norm, but she seems to go in waves and will sleep for 3 hours a couple times a month.  Also, black out curtains are essential so she doesn’t wake up the minute the sun rises. Lastly, I count the time she’s sleeping from the time I put her in the crib, but I have to say, most of the time she plays for a while before she falls asleep.  It’s not unusual for her to be in her crib talking and playing with her animals for 20 or even 30 minutes, so she’s probably getting less total sleep than I think.

Let me know if y’all think of anything else!