Thursday, January 9, 2014

Accepting and Embracing the Post-Baby Body

My mom, just like any mom, did lots of things with us growing up. She played around in the yard, would take us to McDonald's so we could hang out in the PlayPlace, and we never missed a trip to the zoo! There was one thing though that I never understood. Growing up my mom was NEVER in a bathing suit. I can count on one hand the number of times she's been in a pool. As a kid, I thought it was weird that my mom never wanted to play with us in the water. My mom never talked about being fat or diets when growing up, but she would never put on a bathing suit. She would always play it off as if she was too old for the pool. As a kid, you want to play with your mom! Now that I'm a mom of my own, I want to play in the pool with my kids like my mom never did with me. 

This past weekend I was with family for our annual Lake Geneva weekend vacation. Somehow Patsy has lots of bathing suits so we made lots of trips to the pool. When packing my bag, I had only one bathing suit that would fit me, my maternity suit.
Don't mind me, just lounging in a bikini with my big ole pregnant belly!

The hubs and I decided that we would bring our little girl into the pool for the first time while we were there. It is a memorable place for the family so it was the perfect environment. I was wearing my swim suit but felt very self conscious about my belly. Is my pouch obvious? Can you see the scar positioning when I sit down?  I decided to not let these fears get the best of me. I know Patsy will look back on these photos some day and love it. She won't see my pouch, she'll see a mom that loves her. :) So I got out there with my bathing suit and my daughter and we got in the pool! To commemorate the event, we took some photos too! And it was worth it because she is so dang cute!
Don't mind the blurry photo of Patsy. She was so excited and kicking her feet!



It is often hard to take a still photo of an excited baby!

Every day I gain a little bit more confidence in this new body of mine. I really want Patsy to have confidence in herself as a young woman, and I hope to lead her down that path by showing her confidence I have in myself.

29 comments:

  1. You look great!! I can understand being self conscious about your body - I feel self conscious and I haven't even had a baby yet. You are great for going out their in your bathing suit.

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  2. Oh my gosh - you look gorgeous, and if that wasn't you pregnant in the first pic I wouldn't have even known that was a maternity suit!

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  3. Thanks Heather! It actually isn't technically a maternity suit...It is a suit I wore that would fit my maternity body. :)

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  4. Thanks! Hmm, I wonder why the comment is goofy. I'll look into it!

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  5. OK, almost shed a tear at the end :) I think you look gorgeous and not just "for someone who had a baby" but gorgeous, period. No disclaimer needed.


    Plus I'm pretty sure I look exactly the same in that bikini right now ;-)

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  6. Honestly Kelly you don't even look like you had a baby recently! You rock that suit girl! And I love you're attitude towards this experience. This can show other moms the beauty of post-baby :)

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  7. Aw, thanks Maggie! I've noticed that this running blog has kind of turned into a mommy blog. I guess that is what happens when I'm a mom who occasionally runs! Haha

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  8. Thanks Luz! :) Having a baby is wonderful and since your body was the carrier, it is sometimes never the same. But your life is never the same afterwards so it all works out. :)

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  9. I am so happy to hear that you're feeling more and more confident in your new body :) Now that you mention it, I never saw my mom in a swimsuit either! We went to Myrtle Beach every summer when I was a kid, and she never once got into the pool or the ocean with us. I know my mom had body issues (since I often went to weight watchers with her at a really young age, did slimfast with her in junior high, etc.) but I never connected the two. But you're right, Patsy is just happy to hang out with you - look at how much she's smiling! :)

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  10. It's your blog! Write about whatever you want! :)

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  11. Thanks Anne! I think that lots of moms avoid being in bathing suits and avoid photos! I read an article a little while ago telling new moms that they need to get in the pictures. I find myself ducking out of photos because my hair is greasy, I'm covered in spit up, or I'm still wearing my pajamas (for the 4th day in a row)... But Patsy just sees her mom, not the disheveled mess I consider myself to be. She doesn't care that I'm a mess. She just wants to be with me. And THAT is what is most important. :)

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  12. I think I read that article. when I was going through pictures for our wedding slideshow a couple years ago, it was super obvious that my mom was missing from most pictures. We only had like a handful of photos of our entire family of 4, which is kind of sad - you never get that time back. Besides, it's really easy to overlook the PJs and dirty hair when you see that cute, smiling face :)

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  13. You look FABULOUS! Seriously- I can't believe you just had a baby! I love that you shared pictures! Patsy's swimsuit is so stinkin cute...you have the happiest little baby!

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  14. Are you kidding? You look fantastic! And that green baby bikini is KILLING ME. I was at the pool yesterday with the toddler and had to wear a bikini because my one piece is so tight it's looking like a Borat suit. I don't think anyone's really looking at us anyway, unless it's to admire what brave, inspirational #motherswimmers we are.

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  15. Haha thanks! The bikini was on clearance at Janie and Jack ($10). I think you're right... The kids are too cute and totally still the show! :)

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  16. I think the best thing we can do is try to change that for our kids! All kids want to change certain things about how they were raised! :) And you are right, I mean a baby bikini and giant flower headband totally overshadow my receding hairline (from post-pregnancy hair loss) and little pouch. :)

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  17. Britt @ Chicago Runner GirlJanuary 9, 2014 at 4:50 PM

    You look like one hot momma to me!

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  18. Agreed - I see a cute baby & happy mom! I'm not comparing these back to any other swimsuit photos I might ever seen of you before. Love the moving photo!

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  19. Katie @ Live Half FullJanuary 9, 2014 at 8:40 PM

    You look amazing!!! You look HOT, but the main thing I can see is your HUGE grin!!! I love it! So confident and happy.

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  20. Lol I'm not in the habit of posting bikini shots of myself. Thanks! Google created the moving photo for me!

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  21. Thanks Katie! Patsy makes me pretty happy so I can't fake that grin!

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  22. You look awesome my dear. Rock that bikini!

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  23. You look great! I haven't rocked a bikini since I've been 21. My mom suit: Board shorts and a tankini top. Hides everything. =) What I see in those photos is a happy mommy with her happy baby girl!

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