Moments of Musing

LDW 2016

Filed Under: Uncategorized //


This past weekend we took one last summer getaway together. It was so, so relaxing. My parents helped out with the baby’s 5AM feedings and diaper changes and then kept him in their hotel room until 9AM so we both could “sleep in” — just what the doctor ordered. It’s funny how 9AM is considered sleeping in these days. 
On Friday, we spent some time at the pool in a cabana to keep the baby out of the sun. The wind started picking up in the afternoon so we headed to our room earlier than everyone to feed him and get ready for dinner. 
On Saturday, we hunkered down in our rooms and debated whether to leave because of the tropical storm Hermine warnings. My husband kept reassuring me that per his research of the forecast (radars, projected storm paths, etc.), the storm likely would not hit. 
We decided to stock up on baby essentials (diapers and formula) and stay. The wind was intense but on Sunday, the sky was clear and the sun was shining. We enjoyed chocolate-covered bacon, lunch on the boardwalk, and a walk to the outlets, where I indulged in Labor Day clothing sales … for the baby. (I may or may not have already bought him Christmas PJs and outfits…)
As we drove home on Monday I couldn’t help but be grateful for a lovely weekend with my family. Building special memories together is what life is all about. 
And sets a good foundation for the week. ::thumbs up:: 

August: Summer’s End (almost)

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

I have mixed feelings that it is September. On the one hand, I am excited fall is approaching. On the other hand, I am sad to see summer go. Labor Day Weekend is the end of summer in NYC–beaches and pools close and kids go back to school. September is also my last full month home on maternity leave. 🙁
As for August, it was so good to our little family. It consisted of my and my mom’s birthdays; a weekend getaway (Baby L’s first); family time; babywearing; a healthy two-month checkup; redesigning my blog; and enjoying every moment and new memory in between. I feel like my husband and I have gotten into a pretty solid routine, feel way more comfortable as parents, and our marriage has grown stronger.
Cheers to more wonderful moments and memories in this next season of life… but first, we’ll be enjoying one last Summer 2016 getaway! 🙂

Every body is different

Filed Under: body image, motherhood, postpartum, pregnancy //

When I was pregnant, I constantly compared my pregnant body to that of others. I didn’t exactly feel the most comfortable in my skin, especially as the pregnancy progressed and the weight piled on. My discomfort in my own skin almost kept me from doing and enjoying my maternity photo shoot.

Now that I am postpartum and trying to get back into shape, I find myself doing it again. Though I am close to my pre-pregnancy weight, these last few pounds have been difficult to lose.

At times, it feels like I’m back in a love-hate relationship with my body and I want to change that. I want to appreciate my body more and be grateful, especially for the blessing it brought into our lives. Therefore, I’m reminding myself of why I should be more patient with myself.

I have to remind myself:
  •  It took my body 40 weeks to grow a human. It needs and deserves time to bounce back. 
  • I’ve weighed this much in college…when I didn’t have any excuse except laziness and a bad diet. 
  • Gaining weight because of pregnancy is the best reason for weight gain- ever ever.
  • Comparing my postpartum body to someone else’s does no good. After all, we each carry babies differently.  
  • My (and every woman’s) body is amazing… I mean it stretched out (but thankfully NO stretch marks!) to grow a little human and yet I can fit in pre-pregnancy jeans just one month after giving birth. 
So for now, I am not going to be hard on myself and expect my body to look how it did so soon after having a baby. In fact, every time I snuggle him, I’ll be grateful for my body, extra belly rolls and all. 

Just Bloom

Filed Under: blog, blog name //

When I renamed my blog from City Girl Finding Her Place in the World (super short, I know…) to Love, Mrs. L, I wasn’t very content. I thought of Love, Mrs. L as a placeholder rather than a long-lasting blog name and it did not sit well with me. Maybe that’s why I stopped writing as often–I’d lost direction. I went back to the drawing board. I started brainstorming new blog names but I was reaching dead end after dead end. That’s when I decided to search for a floral blog design (because I love flowers–they’re my love language). 

When I found this design, I kept looking just to see what else was out there but I kept coming back to it. Nearly two weeks later, I finally bit the bullet and made the purchase. I pondered keeping the blog name as Love, Mrs. L. After all, I was happier with the design so that was an improvement. I decided to keep brainstorming, though. While brainstorming I remembered I had a queued latergram photo of sunflowers to be posted with the following quote, a favorite of mine:

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Author Unknown


The quote resonates with me on many levels and for many reasons. As a professional, I’ve realized that in doing my best work, I can exceed my own expectations without having the added pressures of competition and comparison. 

As a wife, I try to remember that my life with my husband is wonderful just as it is. Whatever tough times we might face are dealt with together and so, the “bad” times aren’t really all that bad and the good times are that much better. 

As a new mom, I am quickly learning that each of us has our own parenting methods and styles. After all, our children are each unique and have different wants and needs. Being the best mom to Baby L means doing things my and our way, not anyone else’s. 

I especially liked the last portion of the quote: “just blooms.” It is easy to get caught up in the lives of others. Who is prettier, skinnier, wealthier? It could go on and on. In my opinion, this does more harm than good, though. In doing so, we lose sight of who we really are, what we truly enjoy and what we are capable of. 

…And so, Just Bloom was born.


What’s blooming around here

Filed Under: blog, writing //

Before last week, I couldn’t remember the last time I drafted a blog post on my laptop. That’s right… for as long as I can remember I’ve been typing away on this blog from my cellphone. Most times on the commute to work.

You see, it’s tough. It’s tough when your commute is 1.5 hours long, you’re pregnant AND tired during said commute… and then you have a newborn baby. Time is fleeting these days. Whatever free time I seem to have (AKA when the baby is asleep) is spent staring at him or cleaning up around our home.

The last couple of weeks I’ve actually had time to read through some of my old posts. While reading them, feelings of nostalgia came upon me. Not necessarily nostalgia for those times in my life–because I’m currently living my best life–but for the writer in me who produced those writings. 
And so, here I am. I won’t have the same time I once did to dedicate to this space but I want to put forth the effort. I’ve decided to redesign and rename the blog before doing so because I want a colorful, energetic, joyful space to come to whenever I want to write. A place that will encourage me to do more of what I love.
I hope you enjoy the new look!
(Tomorrow, I’ll explain the inspiration behind it.)