Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Bob Stroller Review

My son is now a happy, full of energy 21-month old, and by now I feel experienced enough of a mommy to tell new moms what they really do and do not need to register for.  One of my favorite "big ticket items" that we were blessed enough to be gifted at our baby shower was our Bob Revolution Pro stroller.  This is the chariot of all strollers- it has the smoothest ride, and can go just about anywhere.  My son is comfy, even on bumpy trails, and I love the brake for jogging around our neighborhood in the mountains.  Plus, the extra big shade helps keep him happy and protected from the sun any time of day.
Hubby pushing a sleepy Canyon while hiking at South Yuba River State Park

Got to hike along this beautiful trail while pushing the Bob!
Any Bob stroller is a big purchase, and I fully believe in being frugal and smart with your money.  That being said, I truly believe the Bob was worth the investment if you want to be active with your baby and/or toddler.  Here's why I believe it was worth the hefty price tag:

  • You really can go just about anywhere with this thing.  We have taken it hiking for miles, and so long as the trail is wide enough, it can pretty much make it. You can do the same with a carrier for your little one, but the stroller helps save your back.
  • We decided to request the Bob as a gift at our baby shower, instead of a fancy hiking pack like this Osprey pack.  I believe that was a good choice because there is only a small window where it's practical to hike with your baby on your back (from about 6 months- 18 months).  My son is 31 pounds at 21-months old, and I still hike at times while carrying him, but I much prefer not carrying him if I don't have to! 
  • I have really gotten my use out of this stroller- and it has honestly helped to keep me sane.  I need to be active to feel happy, and as a new mommy, feeling happy is vitally important to your mental health.  
  • You can use this stroller from birth with a carseat adapter, up through toddlerhood (actually, the weight limit is so high, it could technically be used throughout childhood... I have even heard of folks using it for disabled kids).  I believe it is worth investing the most in products that you will be able to use for a long time.
  • I prefer the Bob Revolution Pro model because it has a hand brake.  I felt I needed it since I use it to jog in the mountains, especially when there is road rocks on the streets after winter.  I think we could have gotten by without the hand brake, but I am glad that I have it.  Honestly, it was most useful right after having my son, when I felt the most weak while walking.
  • Hubby displaying the Bob's skills ;)
  • Lastly, they hold their value.  You could easily sell this stroller when you are done with it for a fairly high price.  Bob strollers are popular for good reason, and they are like the Honda or Toyota of strollers.  In five years when you are done with it, you may be able to resell it for $200-$300!
I have found that a 30-minute interval jog with the stroller is a great almost daily outing.  It helped me get back in shape, and it keeps me and my son happy.  I did have to learn how to properly run with the jogging stroller, however, which I plan on making a future post on.

I hope you find a stroller that you love as much as I love mine!  Blessings to you and your family!


Beautiful Northern California

Tips to Spend Less on Groceries

How much do you spend on groceries a month?  This number can vary a lot depending on where you live, where you shop, how many people you are trying to feed, and how many times a month you eat out.  If you don't know the answer to my question, I encourage you to track your spending to see where you can tighten up.  Who wouldn't want to free up extra money to spend on fun stuff?!

In our family of three, we typically spend an average of about $300 per month on groceries.  I didn't realize this was a fairly low amount until talking to various friends and family members.  The first friend I told this amount to told me I was probably wrong in my calculations :)... Well, after tracking for a few months, turns out I was right!  Actually, it is usually more like $250 per month, but I thought I would leave some wiggle room.

I thought I would share some tips with you all as to how we shop, in hopes that you can save some cash for other fun stuff!

(Keep in mind that we like to eat out 1-2 times per week, and we live in Southern CA, where I believe food is fairly affordable).

1.  Focus on nutrient dense foods
2.  Buy in bulk food items that will last a long time
3.  Don't buy in to the Costco hype
4.  Utilize leftovers
5.  Only go grocery shopping 2 times per month
6.  Stock up on staples
7.  Don't drink your calories
8.  Pay attention to price tags
9.  Shop sales and know seasonal produce

We typically spend about $120-$130 per shopping trip, so monthly that adds up to an average of $250.  However, there are sometimes odds and ends that we run to the local (more expensive) grocery store so I added a cushion of $50 in my typical average of $300.  I hope this helps you, please comment if you have any money saving suggestions of your own!

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Letter to a New Outdoorsy Mother

Dear New Outdoorsy Mom,

I know you.  You want to get out there as soon as you can.  Sure, you are sleep deprived and still healing from childbirth, but you won't let that stop you.  Or rather, you're afraid that it will stop you.  You fear that part of your identity will be lost.  Right now your day consists of changing diapers, your boobs hurt, you're flabby like you have never been, and while you are so in love with a new little human, you wonder.  Is this what life is going to consist of from now on?  Does being a mom literally mean that taking a shower is the most exciting, rewarding goal of your day?  You don't know the answer to this... so you make goals.  Lofty goals.  Maybe even tougher goals than you had before you were pregnant.  You are going to climb a big wall.  Hike the PCT.  Kayak a class five.  Eight months should be enough time to accomplish your feat.  Yeah, you can make it happen.  You are very strong, after all.

While you probably could make it happen (like I said, you're very strong), I have to tell you that you don't have to.  Yes, you should make time for the things you love.  You should get outside as soon as you can.  But, new mom, this stage of life will not last forever.  You don't have to be afraid of losing your outdoorsy identity.  You don't need to overcompensate with lofty goals.  Take each day at a time.  Enjoy those new stroller walks with your sweet babe.  Walking to the park is OK for now.  You will climb a mountain again, and sooner than you think.  Time will slip away, and soon you will miss your little stroller buddy (side note- please do me a favor and don't go get a teacup poodle to start pushing in your stroller... then I will have to write you a completely different type of letter...).

My point is this, dear sweet new mommy, you have just done the most amazing thing ever: you grew and created a new little life.  Leave the "mom guilt" behind, and be free to be happy.  Someone said it best when they said, "the days are long, but the years are short."

Be free and be happy,
Me

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Local Hikes: PCT from Inspiration Point to Grassy Hollow

I had the pleasure of going for a short hike by myself the other day.  I must say that there is a certain freedom and joy in going for a walk in the woods all alone.  I feel like I tend to notice more than when I am with a friend.  Granted, I definitely have heightened awareness and tend to spook easier, but when I get the chance to hike alone I usually take it.

I have been going hiking around Grassy Hollow a lot lately.  The higher elevation makes it cooler in the scorching summer months, which is even more important now that I am often hiking while wearing a baby.

If you're looking for a short local hike to get some exercise, I recommend any segment on the PCT.  Around Grassy Hollow area, there are a plethora of different loops you can take.  From Inspiration Point (or "Inspo" as the kids call it), there is a large parking area to the North and South.  Park in the North lot, where the outhouse and horse stalls are at.  From here, head North on the PCT (though at this point of the 2,650-mile trail, it is more like West... so we will say head North-West).  If you're one of those people that always want the description in "left or right" terms, then head left as you are facing the outhouse.

The trail is refreshing and the elevation is nice and hilly.  

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Getting Outdoors with Your Baby: Warm Weather Clothing and Eating on the Trail

Today is part two of my series on tips for getting outside with your little one.  This video is a continuation of last week's discussion on how to dress the baby.  It can be tricky if its hot out- you want to keep the baby out of the sun, but you also don't want to put on so many clothes that they overheat!  Keep in mind that it can be even warmer in the carrier, especially if they are close to your chest!

In the last video I referred to a washcloth-type-thing that is made for hot weather that you could use to stick in your baby carrier in hot weather.  I don't know why I seem to remember it being called a "froggie" or something- but I think I'm totally whack.  Must be the teething and lack of sleep that has be making things up.  But I did find something similar on Amazon here so you can get your froggie (that's what I'm calling it anyways).

This video also covers eating on the trail- pretty similar to eating when you're out and about, but you may just want to make sure you feel like you know what you're doing before you go outside.  Let me assure you- you know what you're doing!  You got this, momma!  (or dadda, or grammy, or grampie...)


Thursday, January 12, 2017

Getting Outdoors with Your Baby : Clothing, Carriers, and Packs

This post is something new for me- a video post!  All about hiking with your little bundle of joy.

I have been slowly recovering (still not 100%) from childbirth almost 10 months ago- BUT I have been able to enjoy getting outside and being active. (You can read my last post on my birth story here if you're interested)

This is the first video of a four part series.  This post will cover how to dress your baby, and I talk about my baby carrier.  Also, what to do to carry your water, snacks, diapers, etc... AND carry your baby (oh yeah- don't forget the baby!)

Have a watch and take a look at the photos.  Hope you enjoy!
Such a happy baby when he's outside!


Notice our super awesome stylish warm long muslin triangle wrap technique.  One more layer for these winter hiking days.



Even our baby enjoyed these views of Mt. Shasta.



I am breastfeeding in the above photo and you can't even tell!  My awesome friend Sarah is carrying our pack full of trail necessities AND her baby.  What a gal.

Yeah, so I was kinda out of shape when we went to Yosemite, so luckily my friend Deanna is super fit and could carry my baby for me.  Notice Canyon's lil hat.  It lets in airflow and creates shade, plus has a velcro strap so it won't fall off.

Can-man passed out on the boat.  The muslin swaddle kept him cool but covered.


Had to get one family shot in there... :)

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Canyon's Birth Story

I have taken a looong break from blogging, and for the record, I hate it when I read a blog and the blogger spends time apologizing for not writing for an extended time. It's like get over yourself, if I am reading this its because I googled something and your blog popped up... I have no idea how often you normally blog...B U T I feel like I kinda got a good excuse here to say that I haven't blogged in a while... I had a freaking baby! Of course I feel the need to write about my experiences with him, so he may be the subject of some posts from now on... but I digress. Here is the story of his arrival with likely too much detail for the average reader, but just enough for myself (I am sure my future self is thanking me riiight now). So... here's the story:

Canyon Nehemiah Overduin was born March 16th at 5:14 pm at Fontana Kaiser Hospital.  He weighed 6 pounds and 4 ounces (tiny though he was 6 days overdue! He was in the 3rd percentile for weight).

Canyon’s birth was pretty crazy (though I am sure every new mom feels this way about their labor and delivery!).  I basically did not follow the typical signs of labor progressing.  My contractions were 10 minutes apart up until about 15 minutes before I started pushing, and the closest they ever got were about 5 minutes apart.

On Friday the 11th (my due date was the 10th) I woke up in the middle of the night from some fairly painful contractions.  After they didn’t go away after an hour and were about 10 minutes apart, I decided to wake up my husband.  At this point I wasn’t completely sure if what I felt were in fact contractions.  For me they felt like period cramps at first, then I could feel tightening up to the top of the uterus.  My husband could see my stomach tightening, too.  After about an hour the pain went away, but I could still feel periodic tightening.  Eventually they died out and we went back to sleep.  This was the first of our bad nights of sleep :)

During Sunday I felt these contractions off and on.  We thought I was probably in pre-labor (yay!) which I was happy about especially since my OB wanted to induce me, though she was respecting my wishes to wait until I was 41.5 weeks, which I really appreciated (there was no medical need to be induced).  Sunday night they were painful enough to wake me up again, and that I needed to breathe through them.  I am accustomed to very painful periods that I also need to breathe through, and I teach yoga, so this came pretty naturally to me.  I found that I simply used the long inhale and exhale with an “O” mouth during my entire labor.  It was simple and allowed me to visualize what was happening in my body.  I visualized my cervix opening and the muscles of my uterus like blue ribbons (a technique from the hypnobirthing method).  Sometime on Monday I started to have bloody show, which continued up until Canyon’s birth.

My contractions continued throughout Monday, but were spaced pretty far apart.  It seemed that my labor always picked up at night, and by Tuesday at 2 am, I had 3 contractions in 10 minutes so we headed to the hospital.  We live about an hour away, and I had been in labor for a while so I didn’t want to wait too long.  This was the closest my contractions ever got before pushing (though I didn’t know it at the time), however, once we got in the car my contractions slowed down to about 1 every 10 minutes again.  In triage they examined me and said I was about 3-3.5 cm dilated and after 2 hrs of monitoring I was about 3.5-4 cm.  The nurse and midwife had looked at my birth plan on file and since I did not want any interventions or drugs, recommended that I come back when I have progressed further.  We went to Denny’s in hopes of making some progress, but then ended up going back home for another night.  At home I walked about a mile and a half, sat on the birthing ball, sat on the dilation station, did it all!

By Wednesday morning I was getting exhausted.  My husband had the routine down by now.  Every time he heard my breathing, he would bring a cold rag with lavender oil on my forehead and cheeks.  This happened all through the night so we woke up every 10 minutes for three days.  I was ready to do about anything to get this baby out of me.  I called the advice nurse and she said to stay home until my contractions were 3-5 minutes apart for 2 hours, which is the same  advice they gave me at the hospital.  I asked if it was normal to feel like this for so long to which she said, “girl, I was 4 cm for a month!”  This was crushing news.  I could not see how anyone could live like this for a month.  Looking back, I am sure that what I experienced was very different than what she experienced.  I had missed my last OB appointment the previous day (Tuesday) since I was at the hospital.  I knew they were going to start doing non stress tests on me since I was overdue.  I decided to call to schedule one, or try to talk to my OB.  My Ob was out, so I made the appointment for an NST.  Thank God that they had an appointment the same day at 1 pm.

We drove back down for the appointment, my contractions still 10 minutes apart and just as intense as they had been the whole time.  They were definitely too difficult to talk through and maintain focus on my breath.  When they examined me, they found that my fluids were low, so they said they were going to “induce” me (whatever that means when you’re already 4 cm).  I went across the street to the hospital and was settled in by about 3 pm.  As I was walking to the delivery room the OB commented, “you’re looking pretty good for being 4 cm!”  Well, once I was examined by the nurse she exclaimed “I can’t believe you’re not feeling this; you’re at 7 cm!”  I was shocked and so very happy!  I had mentally prepared for the worst but was so pleased that I was progressing even though my contractions were spaced far apart.

I told the nurse before I was examined that I preferred a natural childbirth, but that I was at the point where I would pretty much do anything to get this baby out.  We decided to wait and see how it went, and obviously once we knew I was at 7 cm the answer was clear.  I didn’t even need them to break my water.

Thank God I went in for the NST; I progressed extremely quickly but I still had the outer symptoms of being in early labor.  Within about 2 hours I was fully dilated and I pushed for about 10 minutes.  No drugs or interventions needed!  My bag broke once I reached 10 cm (though Canyon still had the bag partially around him and there was some debate by the nurses if my bag needed to be broken), where I IMMEDIATELY felt not only the urge to push, but the uncontrollable reaction by my body.  Had I not come for the NST I would have given birth at home!




The first two pushing contractions were kind of a mess.  But once I understood what my body was doing, I was able to focus and use “J breathing” to help birth him.  I felt like I could have birthed him slower so that I wouldn’t tear, but they were telling me the baby’s heart rate was dropping so I needed to push hard.  This of course gave me ultimate determination.  In my hyper-focused state I realized one of the nurses was on the phone requesting an immediate O2 tree; there was supposed to be one there and there wasn’t.  I realized even more that I needed to focus and listen to instructions.  They told me to breathe deeply during contractions and helped me push more effectively.  I got him out in about 4 pushes, but it was all such a blur that time slowed immensely.  I don’t remember when my Mom walked in the room, but I remember her saying, “I can see his head!”  Once he was born and brought right to my chest, I was filled with wonder.  All I could say is “Oh my gosh!” Over and over again.  He was beautiful, and I felt as though I recognized him from one of the later ultrasounds I had done.  His umbilical cord was still attached and really cool looking; it was curly!  I birthed the placenta with the next contraction; and I was surprised that this also hurt.  Everyone says it’s no big deal, which is true, but it’s not painless.  I requested to look at the placenta, which seemed huge!  Honestly, the worst part for me was being stitched up.  I had 2 tears and needed 2 stitches.  I also bled a lot, likely because I had high blood pressure.  They were very close to putting me on blood pressure medication while I was in labor.  The nurse said it was likely because I was internalizing the pain of labor.  Ummm, yeah I would think someone in labor for 3 days might have slightly elevated blood pressure!  But the tears are worth it to know Canyon is healthy.  He was alert from the moment they put him on my chest, but didn’t cry until they suctioned him, and even then for a moment.  A testament to natural childbirth!  After this experience, I actually believe it would be so much more difficult with an epidural.  But this was the right choice for me.  Following your instincts is absolutely the best path possible.

Update:

At four months postpartum I am just recently feeling like I can be active again.  It wasn’t until Canyon was three months that I felt able to work out and be able to do anything in the bedroom (sorry, Mom, hope you’re not reading this!).  It was extremely hard for me to not be active like I wanted to be during this time.  I thought that I did everything naturally, plus I worked out during my pregnancy, so recovery should be a breeze, right??? Well, not in my case.  But I am healing.  I am still not 100%, but I am slowly getting there.  Hopefully in a few months I will feel completely like my old self again.