The Fit Skool | by Kelly

August 18, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Barks and Burpees!

If you have read my blog before you know how much my dog Cooper means to our family!

Marc and I share a strong love for Cooper and treat him like one of the kids. Every day we make it a priority to get Cooper the exercise that he needs. Whether it’s long walks in the morning or evening, park trips to play with other dogs, doggie play-dates, or even swimming trips at the beach.

The days Cooper is stuck inside for too long, he starts bugging us by taking the kids toys to get our attention So we know he needs to get energy out and do whatever we can do tire that pup out!

PuppySpot has this awesome graphic about fitness for dogs. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share with you guys, so check it out:

It’s so important for humans and animals to get the right amount of exercise. I try to live with the “no excuse” attitude for exercising myself and for exercising Cooper. Sometimes the weather can make it challenging to get outside, so we play fetch inside, do tricks, or suck it up and bundle up in rain gear to make sure he get’s his walks. I know he relies on me every day to give him the attention he needs and I’ll do whatever I can to keep him healthy!!!

August 16, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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The AAPTIV APP

Have you ever heard of the Aaptiv App?

I just found out about the workout App Aaptiv during the launch of their pregnancy program and stroller workouts.

They are launching workouts specifically designed to help you feel your best during all parts of your pregnancy.

Fitness was a HUGE part of both of my pregnancies and I wish they had this when I was pregnant because I totally would have used it.

The workouts are led by pregnancy and exercise guru Kira Kohrherr of FitBump and they have several other wonderful trainers that guide you through safe, effective workouts.

I remember feeling so sluggish during my first trimester but exercise always helped with my nausea and energy. During my second trimester I felt so much more like myself and that’s when I was able to workout more consistently. Their maternity program is great for new moms, current moms and moms to be that need to get moving!

A little bit about Aaptiv…..

Aaptiv just recently launched stroller workouts and workouts for each trimester during pregnancy. Each week includes both strength and cardio exercises specifically designed to prepare a woman’s body for birth. I think it’s awesome that they are guiding you through workouts during your pregnancy, but then they are with you to get that pre baby body back after you have the baby! Whether you’re a marathoner or novice runner, getting back into shape with a stroller or a busy schedule is a new experience for any mom.

I know the thought of getting in shape can be stressful and seem expensive but this app is affordable and the workouts are quick and effective!

Aaptiv offers audio fitness classes through your phone with real coaches guiding you every step of the way. They offer various cardio exercises and strength training routines.

The cost $$$$

The subscription costs $9.99 per month, not bad!

I have done a bunch of their HIIT workouts and some of the workouts involving strength training. I loved the variety of classes they had to offer and the simplicity of the exercises plus as a trainer I got a break from planning my own workouts

Ready to get started? Log into the Aaptiv app and check it out!

If you want a FREE one week trial, send me an email or comment below.

June 22, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Tips for keeping my energy up

Do you ever have days where your energy is dragging and you aren’t sure why? I find myself running into this issue a lot and whether it’s due to lack of sleep from the baby waking up in the middle of the nigh or from a crazy hard workout, I try to re-evaluate the last 24 hours so that I can figure out why my energy is low.

The first thing I usually think about was the last time I ate. I usually don’t last more than 3 hours, and if I do, it’s probably because I overate at my last meal. Sometimes your body craves seconds, right?

So before I keep rambling I wanted to share some tips with you on how I keep my energy up. Hopefully my advice can help you stay away from that 2pm slump and steer clear of those sugar cravings or pick me ups.

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR ENERGY UP:

Control stress. Lets face it, whether we like it or not we all are faced with stressful situations. I personally think it’s how you manage your stress that helps you overcome any problem in life. When I’m less stressed I definitely have more energy. Choose an activity; yoga, workouts, meditation, whatever it is that can help keep your stress under control.
Don’t overwork your body. That means mentally or physically. I’ve done them both on several occasions and man does it wipe me out. I’ve learned what my body can handle, both physically and mentally, and I take breaks when I know I’ve done too much.
Exercise. I don’t know what I would do without exercise, I might just go crazy. It’s my outlet for everything. If I’m stressed I workout, if I have energy I workout and when I need a mood boost, I workout. Basically it’s an important part of my life and I can’t live without it. Oh yeah and when I’m tired, I workout. Is that a shocker? I find on the days I’m exhausted in the morning, a quick workout gets my energy pumping. If you are questioning it, give it a try and let me know how you feel after!!
Sleep. Wow I didn’t realize how much my body needed sleep until I had kids. I need 6+ hours total to function, but I find I’m at my best on 7 hours. Anything less then 6 and my energy is at rock bottom. That’s why I make sleep a priority. Rather then staying up late watching tv and wasting time on Facebook, I go to bed.
Eat nutritious foods for energy. I really think the cleaner you eat the better you feel. Your body needs a steady amount of nutrients to function properly, we all know how we feel when we skip a meal. I even see it with my daughter, she gets HANGRY. It’s so important to keep blood sugar stable so we don’t crave the bad stuff or overeat at meals. I try to stick with 5-6 small meals every 3 hours. I’m not perfect, but when I stay close to that timeframe, I feel my best.
Water, Water, Water!!! That’s all I drink, besides coffee and you know wine. But seriously, water is so necessary and most people don’t drink enough. Did you know that when you are low on water one of your body’s first signs is FATIGUE?

These tips sound easy to keep up with right? The most important way that I personally can keep my energy running high all day long is by eating nutritious foods. To do this, I make sure to:

Take inventory about what I have in my fridge so I don’t run out of healthy options (prepared cooked meats, yogurts, string cheese, hand fruits, cut veggies, etc)
Meal prep foods on the weekend so you have foods you can easily grab and go with no excuses!
Keep healthy foods handy at all times (in your purse, car, diaper bag, gym bag, etc) My diaper bag/purse essentials are a protein bar, protein shake packet, nuts, and granola bars.

I usually meal prep on Sundays. I don’t go overboard because I don’t have a ton of free time with the kids around 24/7 but I do what works for me. I know that if I have my protein sources prepared, my weekly lunches will be easier. I usually prepare a ton of either grilled chicken or pulled chicken. I will have this every day for lunch in salads, sandwiches or rice bowls. It makes my life SO much easier.I swear by it.

I keep a lot of hand fruit available (apples, bananas, peaches, grapes) and veggies that are easy to grab and go (sliced cucumbers & peppers, and baby carrots.) For healthy fats, string cheeses and nuts are my go to and my favorite of all time is large heaping scoops of peanut butter

On a different food related note, I hear this question a lot: What’s your favorite pre/post workout snack?

To be honest, I almost always have a protein shake AFTER my workout. It’s easy and it’s portable. I bring them with me so I can have it right after a workout. It helps keep my energy up and it also helps me with post workout fatigue. When I skip my shake I almost always feel super tired after, but if I drink one, I never feel like that!

My pre workout snack varies because most of the time I workout after breakfast or after dinner because of my work schedule. If I workout in the morning, I eat a breakfast consisting of eggs, healthy fats (coconut oil, avocado or cheese) some sort of veggie (spinach and broccoli are my favorites) and potatoes or toast. I always have CARBS at breakfast and a good amount of protein. My workouts usually follow about 1 hour after my breakfast.

Some days I’m in a rush and if my workout is later in the morning or in the afternoon I will have a protein bar or something similar so I can get an energy boost before or after a workout. Some of my favorites are RXBAR, Quest, Oatmega and I can’t wait to try the new macro vegan protein bar.

Check back for a review on the MACRO VEGAN PROTEIN BAR soon. You can find them at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or at GoMacro.com

June 14, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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The Best Fitness Tracker

It’s no secret that fitness trackers have become a popular way to track and boost activity levels. But with so many options available, it is often difficult to determine which ones are worth the investment. There are many different factors to consider when choosing the right one for you. It’s common sense that complicated, feature-loaded fitness trackers aren’t the best option for everyone. The more sensors and tracking capabilities you cram into a device the size of a wristwatch, the more it’s going to cost you. Not everyone needs to track their position by satellite, either.

To meet the basic needs of any athlete take a look at these key capabilities:

Wireless syncing lets your device update its companion mobile app in real time, as you’re exercising.
Activity notifications alert you when it’s time to move, and when you’ve accomplished your goals.
Water resistance is mandatory for something you’ll be sweating in.
Minimum one-year warranties demonstrate that the manufacturer is willing to back its product.
Unisex designs so the device feels comfortable on any wrist.

After analyzing 87 of the top trackers on the market to see which ones offered the most accurate and useful data to help fitness enthusiasts achieve their goals, Reviews.com came out with three different types:

Basic fitness trackers can count the approximate number of steps you take and calculate the distance you’ve traveled using that data. They’re best for those who want to log primarily distance-based workouts like walking and running. These are typically the only devices you can find under $100.
Heart rate monitoring trackers do everything a basic fitness tracker can, but they also have sensors that can monitor changes in your heart rate. These are typically marketed to people looking to log the calories they’ve burned throughout the day. Since the sensors are fairly inaccurate, however, we don’t actually recommend relying on them outside of monitoring approximate long-range trends.
Heart rate monitoring trackers with GPS can do all of the above, plus communicate with satellites to triangulate your position anywhere on the globe (provided you’re not inside). This makes them a smart option for cyclists, trail runners, or anyone else looking to log distances outside.

They consulted with fitness experts and evaluated everything from sensor accuracy and battery life. Once they narrowed down their list, they spent six months hand-testing the finalists and came out with their top three picks:

Garmin Vivofit 3: Best Fitness Tracker Under $100
Fitbit Charge 2: Best Heart Rate Monitoring Fitness Tracker
Garmin Vivosmart HR+: Best Heart Rate Monitoring and GPS Fitness Tracker

Bottom line when it comes to Fitness trackers, they enable you to make changes to your health by giving you consistent (although, not entirely accurate) data on your daily activity levels. That’s why the best devices are both comfortable and easy to use all day, every day.

Do you use a fitness tracker? If so which one and do you like it?

I currently use a Fitbit Charge, I love it however the Charge 2 has much better tracking and functions so I think I need an upgrade soon!

June 8, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Bradley’s 11 month update

I can almost shed a tear thinking about last year at this time and the anticipation leading up to Bradley’s arrival. It’s crazy to think he will be a year old in 4 weeks.

This month was pretty good and I think each month gets better and easier as a mom of two. Of course there are struggles here and there, but my patience is growing and so is my heart.

Bradley has a special gift and he warms the hearts of everyone he meets with his infectious smile and his goofy laugh. I never thought such a tiny human being could make me laugh and smile so much, but he truly does. We can’t get enough of him.

BRADLEY’S UPDATE

Weight something like 28lbs or something ridiculous. He’s catching up to Ava.

Length not sure we will have to find out at his 1 year appointment.

Bradley is currently in 18-24 month clothing. He’s one big dude and boy is he heavy to hold. Thank goodness he only wants to be held when he wants a bottle or is super tired because my arms can’t keep up. He has 4 top teeth and 2 bottom. I can feel a few new ones coming. Say a prayer for me that he is a little tougher when these teeth finally come, because the first 6 left me with some sleepless nights.

Words

Hi, Mama, dada, baba, yaya, va (we think this is short for Ava but we’ll see), mmmmm, bye

EAT

I will keep this short and sweet…. Bradley loves food. He will eat whenever and wherever. He likes every type of food, potatoes, pasta, cheese, avocado, peaches, berries, bananas, broccoli, peas, carrots, peppers, crackers, cheerios, rice, pancakes, bagels, eggs, did I miss anything?????

He is drinking about 4 sippy cups of formula in between his meals and I can’t wait to introduce whole milk soon. I expect him to transition quickly to milk because he seems to love anything we give him…. piggy.

SLEEP

Sleep has been pretty good but I don’t want to jinx anything. There are always set backs. Bradley is in a good routine/schedule and I am loving it. He’s usually asleep by 7:15/7:30pm and sleeps until 6am.

Bradley loves to randomly cry in the middle of the night (not every night) and its usually because he needs to be picked up and cuddled and I put him back down and he’s out. He’s a snuggler and while I love it during the day, I’m like a zombie in the night and all I want is my sleep. Bradley uses the pacifier to fall asleep at night and then doesn’t usually need it until the morning. One day I’ll throw it out the window, but I’m just not ready yet.

Bradley takes 2 naps a day usually from 930-11 and 2-3:15. Every day isn’t perfect but he’s pretty consistent which makes life a bit easier for us!

PLAY

Bradley is an explorer of everything and mainly things that aren’t in the play area.

For example: pulling toilet paper off the roll is fun right?

While he does like toys and music, he’s always interested in what Ava is doing or playing with, so that occupies most of his attention. He will walk with his walker toy or around things while he holds on, but hasn’t taken his first step yet. I’m okay with this!! He loves climbing the stairs and he’s super fast.

Bradley is OBSESSED with Cooper. He pets him, pulls his fur, climbs over him, gives him cheerios, feeds him food at every meal. It makes me so happy to see them together and Cooper is such a good big brother!

Bradley loves pulling his way up into the fridge and dishwasher, he loves riding on Ava’s pink car and pushing his walker. I’m pretty sure once he takes that first step he will be moving quickly.

He loves playing peek-a-boo and waving to say Hiiiii. I love his “Hi” it’s super cute. I think clapping his hands is his favorite thing to do, he smiles so big when he does.

Bradley is adventurous and can keep up with the big kids… for the most part.

A big highlight from this past month was Bradely’s baptism. We finally got it done and it was perfect.

Overall this month was great and we are so excited for the warm weather and more trips to the beach. We enjoy being outside together and I can’t wait to see Bradley in action at the beach. Of course I don’t want to deal with him eating sand, but once he figures out that it’s gross, I think we will all have some fun times.

May 16, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Bradley’s 10 Month Baby Update

10 months is here already. It totally hit me this past weekend that I need to start planning Bradley’s 1st birthday party. To be honest, I don’t want to think about it or plan it. How can we already be close to his 1st birthday? I swear the second time around things go 10x faster. I barely have time to do laundry and pick up toys and now I have to plan his birthday party. Anybody out there want to plan this for me??

It’s so funny how much easier it was to get things done with just one kid. I had way more time. When it’s just me at home with the kids, I’m outnumbered and I feel like I’m playing defense alllll the time.

Back to the party.. I’m pretty sure I will throw together a good birthday party but it’s not going to Pinterest worthy or anything of that sort. As long as friends and family are there we can make it a good time, right?

Well anyways, this past month was a blur. It went by so fast and I think it’s because Bradley is moving quickly these days. He’s not walking but he’s crawling so fast he might as well be walking. He has the best army crawl I’ve ever seen and he alternates between the knee crawl and army crawl. I think he’s actually faster with the army crawl. I might need to incorporate that exercise move into boot camp this week

BRADLEY’S 10 MONTH UDPATE

Weighs 25.5 pounds

Length He was 31.5 inches at 9 months I won’t find out his length until his next appointment!

Bradley is currently in 18 month clothing and we dress him in some 24 month stuff although it’s a little loose it seems more comfortable then some of the tighter clothes he has. His wrists and ankles are pretty thick right now!!! haha

I know I have mentioned a million times that we have a happy baby on our hands, but it’s true. Through tough teething days/nights and ear infections, Bradley is a trooper. This past month brought another ear infection That meant lack of sleep for this lady and a couple rough nights. I hope these end soon. He can’t afford another ear infection, and I really don’t want him to get tubes in his ears!!!!

Besides that rough patch we had loads of fun watching Bradley strut his stuff as he climbs the stairs and pulls himself up on tables, chairs, couches, people, basically anything he can grab he will climb. This phase went by a lot faster with Ava because she was already walking at this age so I’m trying to enjoy it. I really can’t imagine chasing after 2 walking/running kids. HELP!

Part of the reason I work out is to keep up with these 2 kids but I swear they tire me out more then any class I teach!

EAT

Bradley’s a machine when it comes to eating. Any time of day you can hand him something and he will eat it. There’s no food he won’t devour right now and I love it because Ava is so not into food right now. At least I have one kid that will sit and eat.

Bradley loves cheese, avocado, eggs, turkey, meat, meatloaf, dad’s grilled chicken, bread, potatoes, bananas, all the fruit, all the veggies, pasta, mac and cheese, oatmeal, cheerios, yogurt, oh and did I mention cheese ALL the cheese please! We also tried peanut butter this last month and it was a success. He’s definitely mama’s boy, I never go a day without peanut butter!

SLEEP

We go through phases with sleep. We will get a couple weeks of good sleep and then there will be teething or he’s sick and it will be rough. I mean it’s still ok, but it could be better and then again it could be worse. We had a little sleep regression after our trip to Rhode Island. He started taking 3 naps again. We would put him down for what we thought was bed for the night and he would wake up after 30-40 minutes ready to party again. Every once and a while that’s cool but not every night, I need a little break here and there!

In all seriousness though sleep has been fine. Bradley is usually asleep between around 6:30-7pm and sleeps until 6am. We did have some 4am and 5am wake ups this past week but I think he had a growth spurt because he was eating non stop.

Bradley naps twice a day. The morning nap is around 9:30 and is sometimes 45 minutes and sometimes an hour and a half. His second nap is about the same length but usually on the shorter side. As long as he sleeps good at night I don’t really care about the naps.

PLAY

Playtime these days involves a lot of me pulling Bradley off of things, like hanging from cabinets and stairs. I’m all for teaching him how to do things and I encourage climbing and exploring as long as I’m there to help.

This picture makes me so happy because Bradley LOVES Cooper and was snuggling him in this picture. Cooper is also the best for letting Bradley pull his fur out!

Ava has been the BEST helper this past month. She has learned to stand behind him if he pulls himself up on something or if he knocks over the gate at the bottom stair she calls for me to let me know. I have tried giving her more responsibility so that she feels extra important and let her know she’s the best helper.

Bradley loves playing with Ava and basically wants to touch and take everything she’s playing with. This has tested my patience and Ava’s as well. She’s learned to give him a different toy when he reaches for hers or sometimes I ask her to give it to him and find something else to play with. She’s pretty good at sharing and I’m thankful for that. I think she learned from Cooper always taking her stuff when she was little

BRADLEY LOVES

saying hi and waving like a mad man. It doesn’t exactly look pretty yet but he’s getting it
Clapping his hands
Patty cake
being sung to or listening to music
playing with Ava and being near her at all times
food
being outside
walking his dog
PEEK-A-BOO it’s his favorite and he does it by himself now
Climbing anything

BRADLEY DISLIKES

being put down when he has to burp
when you leave the room
the vacuum and blender. I use the blender every single day so he’s getting used to it! The vacuum on the other hand… I can stop using that right?
being held unless he’s tired or not feeling well. He wants to be on the go.
when someone doesn’t share their food

I’m so curious to see when Bradley will take his first steps, I know it will be soon but his personality is a little different then Ava’s. She was a go-getter and still is. She always strives to do more, jump higher, and be the best. She doesn’t like when she fails at something and we are trying to teach her that it’s ok to fail because you learn to do it right the next time. Bradley on the other hand is more laid back. He still wants to learn and do things but he’s not in a rush. I love seeing their differences and sitting back to watch them play is the best. I caught myself telling Ava not to do something to Bradley this past week but it was making Bradley laugh so I backed off. The 2 of them giggled back and forth for about 5 minutes and I couldn’t help but laugh myself. It reminded me that I need to leave the room more because they can play together without me breathing down their backs.

I think in today’s world we are so fearful of letting our kids do anything alone. Even leaving the room to pee or shower feels like you are doing something wrong. When I grew up we played outside until our Mom called us in. I got dirty, I got bumps and bruises but I got fresh air and played with friends. Today if you let your kids play outside alone you will get in trouble or something bad could happen. That doesn’t seem right?? Any other moms out there feel the same way?

I know there are a lot of rambles in this post, it’s a sign that I need to blog more. I SOO miss it but I SOO don’t have a second to breathe these days. Thank you all for reading… if you are still out there

April 20, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Bradley’s 9 Month Baby Update

9 months???????? What the????? That’s how long I was pregnant with this cute little guy. I cannot believe this month is here, time sure is flying by.

This past month was SO much fun. Bradley is crawling all over the place and exploring every corner of the house. He still plays with lots of toys but he wants to explore and find things like Cooper’s water dish, Cooper’s toy bin, ALL the cabinets, pull out the dvd’s, take the shoes from the shoe rack, play with the dishwasher when I’m unloading dishes… you know the fun stuff.

Bradley is so much fun to be around and his smile lights up the room. He keeps me smiling and laughing on a daily basis and I’m so thankful for him every day!

Big sister Ava loves entertaining him with her toys, her songs, her load screams, her running and jumping moves, peek-a-boo and whatever silly tricks she has up her sleeve. He adores her and if she leaves the room or goes upstairs he starts to whine (we know he is saying come back Ava, or bring me to her now!)

Bradley’s 9 Month Update

Weight 24.5 lbs (99 Percentile)

Length 31.5 inches long (off the charts for length)

Bradley is solid and big. He currently doesn’t like to be held unless he’s tired or teething which is fine with me because he is heavy and my arms get tired quick! Sometimes I think of him as a toddler but he is still really a baby.

He is currently in 18 month clothing and some 12 month stuff still fits. Believe it or not he wore a 24 month shirt the other day and it fit great. I need to get shopping for spring and summer outfits fast before we run out of clothes.

EAT

If you say food or show Bradley food, he starts kicking his legs and his eyes widen. There’s no hiding his love for food. He has become so self sufficient this past month as he grabs to hold the spoon and reaches for his finger foods. We are slowly introducing finger foods and he can’t get enough. I crack up watching him put cheese into his mouth. He basically shoves his whole hand into his mouth he can’t get the food in fast enough.

We do 3 meals a day with a mixture of finger foods and pureed food. He eats some finger foods like cheese, avocado, turkey, mashed potatoes and mashed sweet potato & banana pieces, etc. There’s still not a food Bradley won’t eat!.

I have to keep my eye on Ava when she’s eating now because she will leave stuff on the floor and Bradley scurries over to see what it is. She also lets him take licks of her ice pops and I’ve seen her stick food in his mouth. Luckily we haven’t run into any big problems with that but I’m still all eyes on her

SLEEP

Sleep will always have its ups and downs as I’ve realized 3 1/2 years into this parenting thing. If it’s not Bradley who’s fussing in the middle of the night, Ava or Cooper will wake up to use the bathroom or Ava will be hungry at 4am just to tortute us.

Bradley has been doing pretty well on the sleep front though. His bed time is between 6:45 and 7pm give or take 15/20 minutes. He will sleep until 6:30-7am or unless his sister decides to wake him up which annoys me so much.

A couple weeks ago Marc was in Florida for work and I thought I could handle the 2 kids on my own but that only lasted a day. Bradley decided it was a perfect time to start cutting some more teeth so we had some nights I was up several times to help him get comfortable or give him his pacifier and Ava wasn’t sleeping great either. Lets just say I chugged a lot of coffee to get through. Thank god for my moms help too

Bradley is now down to 2 naps which is much better for our schedules. His first nap is around 9:30am and his second nap is between 1:30 and 2pm. Those naps are usually an hour and a half each for a total of 3-4 hours of nap time. I have found the days Bradley naps well, the whole day runs smoother, there’s less fussing and more play. All in all I have no complaints on the sleep front

PLAY

I love playtime!! Bradley loves interaction with everyone but can still play quietly on his own which is awesome. He’s so easy going. Now that he’s crawling at a rapid pace I find myself moving him a lot. He gravitates towards wires, coopers food bowl and the dirty shoe rack. Clearly his toys are getting old.

I love seeing Bradley’s face as he explores anything new. He loves

any toys that light up or sing music
playing peekaboo
having songs sung to him
clapping his hands
chewing on toys
banging on drums
figuring out a new trick
crawling under tables and chairs
pulling himself up on everthing
playing in Ava’s room
Absolutely loves bath time
splashing water
eating in his high chair
walks in the stroller
saying dada, baba, yaya
playing with coopers paws

Bradley dislikes

diaper changes
being put on his back for diaper changes
getting his face wiped
getting pulled out of the bath tub when bath time is over (he doesn’t want to stop playing in the tub!!!)
being tired
when you take a toy from him
when you put the pacifier in his mouth, he has to do it on his own 90% of the time

Play time is the best time of day and I really enjoy sitting back and watching Ava interact with Bradley. I encourage her to talk to him, show him new things and also to help me do things with him like changing diapers or wipe up his spit up. It helps boost her confidence and keeps her involved since he still requires more attention right now.

I sometimes catch myself being super cautious because Ava does throw toys, does pull him by his pants, lay on top of him, and take stuff out of his hands. There was one really bad week where she was not being nice to him at all, pushing him, pulling him throwing toys at him. I tried really hard to explain to her to be gentle, tell her we don’t hit but nothing was sinking in. I realize it’s a learning curve for her and she’s still learning how to handle her tiny brother but sometimes I want to close my eyes when I see her jumping in mid air over him on the floor. Yikes. I swear.. kids will make you want to pull your hair out, but then you will catch them giggling in the other room and walk in to see them holding hands and all those bad moments disappear.

I’m still a work in progress with parenting two kids but I’m accepting I’m not a perfect parent and I’m learning something new each day. When I look back to 6 months ago we have grown leaps and bounds and I can’t wait to see what fun stuff we can all do together this next month!!

March 16, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
0 comments

Bradley’s 8 Month Baby Update

I’m back again with another Bradley update. Yay or nay? I personally love writing these posts. It lets me look back on the past month and how much I absolutely adore this little boy.

Sorry this post is a little late, but finding time to sit down on the computer these days is very challenging!

(This is Bradley’s favorite pose, he probably does it about 100x a day and I love it! He flashes his cute little smile and looks over his shoulder to see where we are)

Okay, so this past month has been REALLY good. We have been having so much fun watching Bradley explore the world and enjoy seeing him interact with Ava.

Besides having a small cold for a couple days, Bradley has been healthy and happy.We have been having a blast watching him crawl all over the place. He has so much determination, you can see it written all over his face. I purposely place toys on the floor to see his reactions.

This phase of babyhood is really a joy because everything is new Bradley. I find it easy to entertain him and it’s so easy to get him excited. You can literally hand him a spatula and his eyes will light up. It buys me about 20 minutes.

BRADLEY’S 8 MONTH UPDATE

We don’t head to the doctor for a check up until he’s 9 months but we did put Bradley on the scale for our own curiosity.

WEIGHT 23.5 lbs
LENGTH 30 inches

Last time we were at the doctor he was 98% for almost everything. I am assuming now that he’s crawling and more mobile he might not gain as much weight as he did before.

He is currently in 12-18 month clothing. It’s so crazy to me that he’s outgrowing 12 month clothes but he is large so it makes sense.

EAT

Bradley is a fantastic eater. He usually lets you know he is hungry by making some fussy noises, he doesn’t usually scream for food but he lets you know. Bradley has 3 meals a day plus 4-5 bottles.

He loves sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, avocado, butternut squash, apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, oatmeal, rice cereal. He doesn’t like peaches and so far that’s the only food he won’t eat! We are slowly expanding his foods which is always fun. Ava loves checking out his funny faces to any new foods he eats.

He loves eating at restaurants and is so well behaved!!

While Bradley is a great eater and doesn’t usually leave any leftovers we have noticed that when he wants to take a bottle he can’t seem to settle down, so I find myself holding his hand or singing to him while he drinks and he seems to calm down. I basically think he fears that he is missing out on playtime with Ava!!

SLEEP

I am writing about this and I hope I don’t jinx anything in the meantime but sleep the past few weeks has been great. Sure there are the occasional wake ups but for the most part we are all sleeping more soundly.

Bradley is usually asleep anytime between 7-8pm and will sleep until 6/630am. This works great for our schedule right now. We did travel to Rhode Island this past weekend so his schedule was a bit off but he seems to have caught up!!!

Bradley is napping 2-3 times a day.His one nap that is pretty consistent is his morning nap which is usually at 9:15am. Sometimes its an hour and sometimes 2 hours! When Ava is home from school it seems to be more difficult to get him to sleep but his second nap is usually around 1:30-2pm and again can range from 30-90 minutes. If his second nap is short he will definitely take a short 3rd cat nap before bed.

I don’t mind his afternoon schedule being a little all over the place because it gives us the flexibility to run errands, go outside, go for walks, etc.

PLAY

I love talking about playtime because it just keeps getting better each month. Bradley is on the move and you can see in his eyes he wants to explore and touch everything. We are pretty much baby proofed but I have run into a couple things that I realized we needed to fix. We had a floor lamp that he almost pulled over so that got moved to the basement and he recently tried to pull the monitor cord out of the wall so I quickly changed that spot!!

Bradley really enjoys playing with Ava or near her. If she’s not in the same room he needs to find her and see what she’s doing. He loves putting any and all toys in his mouth and loves pulling bins of the shelf and taking toys out. Ava was a little more agile at this age then Bradley but boy is he strong. I don’t remember Ava being able to pull bins out on her own at 8 months and his grip is so strong I swear he could swing a baseball bat already.

I can already see him trying to pull himself up on things so I am guessing that might be his new trick at 9 months!!

When we are out and about, Bradley loves to flash a smile at anyone he meets, I think he is going to be outgoing and social as he gets older. I know I have talked about his first word before which was dada but now I’m pretty sure he can say hi. I don’t think he knows what it means but he babbles hi dada dada dada. We are also getting some babas too. When I say baba and show him his bottle he kicks his legs and smiles, my boy loves his food!!!

Of course MAMA isn’t one of the first words, but I know I will be super happy when that word comes out of his mouth. I say it to him all the time so he knows its me right?

As I look back on this past month I couldn’t be happier with the relationship that is developing between Bradley & Ava. I honestly believe that the best gift I could have ever given Ava was a brother. She has matured so much this past 8 months.

She is my assistant during diaper changes, she shares all her toys, she makes him laugh with her crazy dance moves and peek a boo tricks. She literally makes him smile so easy, she has a natural gift!

Of course i have highlighted all the good stuff in this post, but there were several days this past month I wanted to pull my hair out. Kids screaming, kids not napping, kids not listening, kids torturing mama…I have gotten better at walking away, taking a deep breathe and then having a glass of wine with Marc when he gets home

February 27, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Honest Company Spring Diaper Collection!

The Honest Company is launching their new 2017 Spring Diaper Collection today and I was so fortunate to get a sneak peek so I could share them with you!

I don’t know about you guys, but the warmer weather and spring time excites me. There’s something about the prints on these diapers that might just lift our spirits and let us know that winter is coming to an end.

My little boy Bradley is a sweaty baby and he prefers to be sans clothes. The second you take off his onesie he kicks his little chunky legs around. He’s trying to let me know he’s happy that he can breathe a little. I’m pretty sure we will all appreciate these adorable prints on him when he decides he doesn’t want me to put that onesie back on!

Besides the cute prints, I am loving all the details behind these diapers:

Made without: chlorine processing, latex, lotions, fragrances, phthalates, optical brighteners, organotins (MBT, DBT, TBT), or most common allergens
Made without chemical bleaches
Simply pure — made without latex, fragrances or lotions

Ultra-soft plant-based (PLA) inner and outer layer — gentle on your baby’s bottom
Naturally derived odor blockers from citrus and chlorophyll
Bio-based wheat / corn blend in super-absorbent core, with less sodium polyacrylate

Aren’t they so cute!

I am a fan of these diapers for a couple reasons….they are eco-friendly and they don’t have all the additives/chemicals that most diapers out their have!

Plus they are SUPER adorable and come in 5 different prints. I really can’t wait to try them out.

To get your hands on some, head over to the DIAPERS page on the Honest Company website!

February 17, 2017
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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My Workouts Lately + an at home workout

Hey there! How are you all doing today? I’ve been meaning to sit down and write a post that has nothing to do with kids and motherhood but the truth is that’s my life now and I can’t avoid mentioning it

This past month my workouts have been more consistent. I’ve been able to better manage my time to squeeze in some at home workouts in addition to the classes that I am currently teaching. Once I started putting myself first and getting in those extra workouts my mood increased dramatically. Fitness is a HUGE part of my life and it was on the back burner for a few months because of postpartum recovery and adjusting to my busy life as a mom of 2.

Now that my workouts are part of my daily routine again I feel like I’m functioning better all around. My mood has increased, my energy, and my fitness performance is getting better. My body isn’t quite where I want it to be but I have some big goals for myself these next 6 weeks.

I also stepped up my nutrition game and cut out sugar and processed foods. It makes a BIG difference in how I feel and I’ve seen a difference in my stomach.

I know I’m starting to ramble…

Anyways my workouts lately have been quick, intense & tiring. I have been teaching a few classes a week and besides that I do a couple at home workouts. During those workouts I try to pack in as much as I can in about 20-30 minutes so that I can get back to mom duties.

I have popped in T-25 Dvds, insanity Max30 Dvds, and have created some of my own workouts involving the kids. I find that mixing it up helps me to stay motivated and pushes me on different levels. I’ve started to incorporate Ava into my at home workouts again so that she sees how important it is to be active and stay healthy. We did a mix of yoga, squats, planks, boxing and jumping jacks. It’s fun to see her in action and she’s becoming a phenomenal counter.

I want her to know that fitness/health is my passion and hopefully one day she will find something she is passionate about herself!

Here is one of the at home workout that I created on a day when both kids were napping and I needed fresh air. I headed into the backyard to get my workout in. This workout requires a Jump Rope, stairs, and weights.

FULL BODY BACKYARD BLAST

WARM UP with 5 Minutes of Jump Rope

10 PUSHUPS

15 STEP UPS (Each leg)

20 WALKING LUNGES

30 SQUAT TO PRESS

1 MINUTE of JUMP ROPE

Repeat 3-5x or as many rounds you can.

The jump rope warm up got my heart pumping and the blood flowing for this workout. You could always do some extra squats, lunges and stretching to increase the duration of this warm up. I will definitely do this workout again for sure