Postpartum Depression and All of Its Glory

So, I’m going to be real here for a bit. I LOVE being a mom. I would do it all again, and again, and again. He is the best thing I have done in my life…but, man, postpartum depression is a B word. I have never quite felt the love, anger, joy, despair, excitement, completeness, and emptiness that I have felt after welcoming Walt into the world. I spend everyday watching him grow and learn. I spend every day learning how to love this tiny human better. I spend every day missing the interaction I would get as a student and employee. I think to myself “how am I going to make it through?…How am I going to fill the day?” and the answers are always the same; we can go to the library, we can have a playdate, go for a walk, go swimming, or make a mess of something (usually snow, jello, whipped cream, etc.). Eating kills about 20 minutes. Naps (if they’re good) can give me at least 30 minutes to pee, eat, fold laundry, let the dogs out, and maybe sit for a few seconds. My brain is literally mush. I swear I looked at the mashed potatoes we ate for dinner and felt a strong kinship with them. I cry at least twice a day. I      space      out    so    much.  I feel nothing sometimes. Then again, sometimes I feel everything. All of it. It all comes rushing over me, and it’s overwhelming. It takes my breath away.
I know it will get better one day. I know hormones are a part of all of this nonsense. I know that being a mom is still so new, and it takes time to catch up. I am okay. Don’t worry (for those of you who may be). I have great support structures. I just wanted to see my thoughts become words. I wanted to remind my future self of how hard this was, and I know that future version will think to herself “TOTALLY WORTH IT”.

❤ TZ

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Digging Deeper

I have done a lot of thinking this year about identity. I now hold two titles (Wife and Mother) that society recognizes, and while I a completely honored to hold these titles I have been questioning what my real identity is rooted in, where it comes from. This will not be a post that highlights some epiphany I’ve come across, unfortunately. I just wanted to get some thoughts down. Maybe in publishing this I will be blessed by your prayers and/or words of encouragement. Obviously, for those of you who are Christian and reading this, my identity comes from Christ. That’s easy to say, and most of us proclaim it on a regular basis, but what the heck does that even mean. What does it mean that my identity is in Christ when my defiant toddler brings out, what feels like dormant demons, from deep down within me? What does it mean to have my identity reside in Christ when my husband is trying to be, literally the perfect gentleman, and all I want to do is yell at him (I have problems, don’t judge me). This year has forced me to dig deeper. I cannot rely on simply eating well, exercising, sleeping enough (because Lord knows that does not happen), or relying on friends (because I am lacking in this area currently). I have to reevaluate the area of my life I have neglected…prayer. Ugh. Why is it so hard to do this regularly?

Maybe none of you have this issue. Maybe it’s just me. If so, please enlighten me. I must also say that I have had to up how frequently I read my Bible by almost twofold. Prayer though…that’s where I get tripped up everytime. So, right now I am working on that. In terms of identity, I am proud to wear the hats of Wife and Mother, but I want to hear what God would say about my identity in Him. I’m hoping He wants to spill the beans sometime soon =)

Thanks for reading the ramblings of a confused woman.

❤ TZ

Walt’s First Year

We are just days before Walt’s first birthday, and I am amazed at how fast a year has gone by. He still refuses to walk (lazy little boy), but insists on doing anything and everything on his own. His hair is still blazing red. His eyes are still super blue. His teeth count is holding strong at eight, though I think he is about to cut two canines. Right now his favorite thing to do is clap and use everything that isn’t his walker for pushing around the house including, but not limited to: daddy’s guitar case, the wooden activity cube, books, chairs, and Roo. He recently developed an affinity for the dog’s chuck it.
His quirkiness, joy, and independence astonishes me. As we watch him grow it becomes more obvious that the prophetic word we received about him being a “forerunner for Christ” is accurate. We cannot wait to watch him grow over the next year, and all of the years that follow.

Walt,
You are truly a blessing. We have grown as individuals, as husband and wife, and as followers of Christ because of what we have learned from you. Your giggles break up the lonely silence I use to be familiar with. Your slobbery kisses melt my heart. The joy you have when Dada walks in the door fills my sometimes drained body/mind/soul. We love you, and we have enjoyed life with you so much, so far. You are strong. You are smart. You are funny. You are loved.

❤ Mama

Sweet Autumn, I’ve Missed You

I loved living overseas.
I love living in Charleston, SC.
I loved meeting the people I met.
I loved learning new languages.
I loved soaking up the sun in both places, but oh how I missed these colors.

The Ginkgo tree across the street is boasting a golden hue in high definition, and it’s been so welcoming to me in the mornings.
The Red Leaf Maple in our yard is straight up on fire, and it sparks so much excitement in me to create, run, laugh, and breathe deeply. It makes me feel like a child (I can only imagine how Walt feels when he sees it).
The Bald Cypresses, and all of their orange warmth. They sweep me up every time I walk past them. They always seem as if they are asking for a hug, and I would gladly give them one if they would.
Last, but not least….the Birch. I feel still when I see them. I feel silent. I feel calm. I feel peaceful. They amaze me with their contrasting gold melting over white bark.
All of these and the other autumn faces I have passed, set the world on fire. They keep the cooling earth warm, if only for a short time. Autumn’s colors are a force to be reckoned with. I love her.

I have missed autumn, and all if her splendor. I have missed my friend. Thanks for waiting for me here, Autumn.

❤ TZ

My Face

I feel blessed to be able to write two days in a row.
Thank God for days where Walt naps well.

I wanted to talk about my no makeup journey for a bit. My skin hasn’t been blemish free since I was 10. That means for more than half of my life I have looked in the mirror and seen at least one pimple on my skin. Now, at 28 I am also confronting fine lines, sun spots, and scarring from past acne breakouts. Most of the skin issues I have could have been prevented by applying more sunscreen when I was younger, but as someone who played hard, was active in sports, and just loved being outside, it was hard to remember to do it sometimes. This is not going to be a sunscreen lecture. I just wanted to say that my skin is not perfect, and that I have gotten to where I am today with “flawed” skin.
Last week I looked in the mirror for the first time and didn’t think critically of my skin. I brushed my teeth, splashed cold water on face, dabbed on some vitamin C lotion, and walked out of the bathroom. Only to realize an hour later that I had given zero thought about the smiles lines, the dark circles, the scars, and blotchy complexion that used to plague my mornings, and most of my days. I feel free. I feel lighter. I feel pretty.

Most importantly, I feel all of these things without the crutch of makeup. I’m sure I will still have days that I want to run for the hills of concealer, or grab the mascara lifeline, but for a week now I have seen great improvements on how I see myself. The real, unmasked, ME.

“So God created them in His own image, in the image of God He created them…”
Genesis 1:27

I am the image of the invisible, and I am starting to cherish myself for who I was created to be. ❤ I pray that if you have ever struggled with your appearance, that God would work in your heart to help you see His beauty and majesty that is longing to shine through. You are royalty. YOU are beautiful.

❤ TZ

When Life Gives You Spaghetti

A lesson learned from my 7.5 month old….

Sometimes you enjoy life a little more when you embrace the mess, rather than constantly trying to control it or tidy it up. Daniel and I used to have a tidy house all the time. I mean occasionally we would be guilty of jumping ship on a pile of laundry and indulging in a Harry Potter movie. We know we aren’t perfect, but we find comfort in a clean house. We enjoy going to bed with a tidy living room downstairs, an empty kitchen sink, and a floor free of dog hair. That is, until Walt came along. I still clean. We aren’t opening our doors to parades of ants or sweeping Sage’s hair under carpets or anything. But, for the past couple of weeks I’ve walked up our creaky stairs only to look out on a small ocean of teething rings, wood blocks, puzzles, and other colorful nonsensical items. It innately drives me crazy. It makes me want to stay up for an extra hour (or three), so I can “feel better”.
All of this comes from a place of desiring control. HA! Like I have ever had control before. It’s a sobering lesson; learning you have very little control over anything other than yourself and your emotions. I don’t get to have a clean house 24/7 if I also want to enjoy my time with my son. I don’t get to clean every dish as it’s used anymore if I also don’t want to hear a screaming, teething, infant. I don’t get to have stainless baby clothes, spotless table cloths, or sauceless dogs if I want to enjoy watching my son enjoy spaghetti and meatballs for the first time. He grabs a messy pile of meatballs and noodles, and embraces the entirety of it. He smears the mess all over himself scoop after scoop after scoop. Plus, he does it with a smile.
Be still my heart, and realize that sometimes there is joy in the mess.

❤ TZ

Miles and Muscles

Alright…
Postpartum working out has been challenging for so many reasons:
*Diastasis Recti
*Weak pelvic floor muscles
*Sore hips
*Managing breastfeeding and working out (in the beginning)
*Exhaustion
*Limited time
*Limited options for child care (when Daniel is at work)

And so on…

HOWEVER
Working out has been one of the main things to get me through the postpartum season.
*I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight (have been for 2 months now)
*My hormones are leveling out
*I feel energized after working out (even if I got very little sleep)
*It has helped me meet people
*It gives me something to look forward to

I love lacing up the Brooks, throwing on a hat and taking to the pavement or trail. Recently I have also been loving getting after it in the weight room. I know that a post-pregnancy body is nothing to be ashamed of, but the me I want to be proud of is the me that pushes herself and eats well. I can’t wait to get back to a place where I am confident in my strength and endurance, and I know that working hard is all a part of that journey.

Fitness Goals:
*Run a 5k with Walt in the jogging stroller
*1/2 marathon by November
*Marathon in January
*Bench my body weight again
*Get my mile back under seven minutes
*100 pushups and 10 pull ups consecutively by December

So over the next couple of months it’s all about building.

No Makeup, No Problem.

The other day I was standing in line at Weis waiting to purchase my groceries. An older woman was oohing and awing at Walt, and making friendly conversation with me. As the line moved forward she began to talk to me more. At one point I mentioned how I had a pimple that was really sore, and stated that I couldn’t wait until my adult acne was finally gone. She then proceeded to say “aw honey, you can cover it up with some makeup and no one will even notice”.
“NO ONE WILL EVEN NOTICE”
“IT WILL MAKE MY EYES POP”
“I NEED TO PUT MY FACE ON BEFORE I GO OUT”
These are just a small fraction of the things people say to justify putting makeup on. Some women actually love their makeup. They spend lots of money on it. They watch videos to perfect it. Some go for the “natural” look. Some go for shock and aw. Some just use a little. Others will utilize the layering technique. Regardless of how much makeup they use or the way they use it, most women wear some kind of makeup.
I would like to say that the woman in line did not upset or anger me, but she did make me think about why I (and others) wear makeup. Why do I care if someone sees my pimple? Why do I care if my eyes “pop”? Most importantly why do I buy makeup when there are other things I could put that money towards? Not to mention the time I waste applying the makeup. On average, women in the U.S. spend about $43 per shopping trip, or $15,000 on beauty products in her lifetime (https://people.com/style/how-much-does-a-woman-spend-on-makeup/). Now, I am not a financial or investment advisor, but my husband is pretty educated in this area and would back me up on what I am about to suggest. Say we took $5000 of that $15,000 and put it into an account where on average the annual compounding interest rate is 8%, and we continued to put $200 into the account annually for the next 50 years. We could end up with over $350,000 at the end of those 50 years. This is obviously theoretical, but not too far off from what that money could be.
Another huge aspect of applying makeup is time. I complain about not having enough time to do things now that I have a baby, but a survey in 2014 found that 78% of women (in the survey) spent, on average 335 hours a year on apply makeup (https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a19954807/womens-beauty-routine/). That’s 14 days spent on makeup. That’s almost 3 weeks of vacation (not including weekends). I HAVE time, but I use some of it to put makeup on, so that I will feel better about myself. But why?

So…I realized that I want to get to a place where I feel inherently good about myself. I want to feel beautiful spiritually and mentally before I even consider my physical appearance. God made me beautiful. He made YOU beautiful. What I want to do is meditate on what God sees when He looks at me, and start to tell myself the things that He would say about me.
Some of the things the Bible says about “beauty”
“…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)

I believe that my face was made fearfully and wonderfully (as the rest of me was), and I plan to try and see it that way when I look in the mirror. I think that starts with looking at it more in its natural state. So, moving forward from today, I plan to do my best to start each day by NOT applying makeup, and instead asking God to help me see myself the way He sees me.

Day one: No makeup, no problem

❤ TZ

Finding an Old Mix CD

I was going through a box that contained some of my stuff from high school, and boy oh boy, did I find some treasures. Aside from my letter from sports, photos taken with a disposable camera, prom tickets, concert tickets, SAT scores, tourney medals, and my mom’s watch, I also found a CD full of music I had forgotten all about.

Tanya’s Mix CD from 2007:
1. Angels and Airwaves “The Adventure”
2. Taking Back Sunday “Makedamnsure”
3. The Starting Line “Best of Me”
4. Paramore “Riot”
5. Something Corporate “Konstantine”
6. Mewithoutyou “Torches (Live from Warped Tour)”
7. Underoath “Reinventing Your Exit” (this was my favorite song to warm up to for soccer games!
8. Flyleaf “All Around Me”
9. My Chemical Romance “The Black Parade”
10. Five Iron Frenzy “On Distant Shores” (LOVE THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!)
11. Yellowcard “Only One”
12. Angels and Airwaves “Secret Crowds”

There are more songs on the CD, but it’s pretty scratched and won’t play the last five songs, which is kind of a bummer, but it was pretty weird listening to these again. I’m glad I was reminded of Angels and Airwaves, Five Iron Frenzy, and Mewithoutyou. Looks like I’ll have a new/old CD to listen to in the car now =)

 

-TZ

 

Visiting With A Friend

Over the weekend I was able to visit with my best friend, Jenn, and her two sons, Lincoln and Connor. Recently Jenn’s husband, Sean, was deployed, so I wanted to go to her and help take her mind off of it.
I just want to say that I admire Jenn and Sean. Their love for one another is strong. It’s fun. It’s inspiring. I have loved watching them grow together, having babies together, and come out of challenges stronger together.
We ended up spending a large portion of our time in Target, because women be shoppin, and we saw a great friend from high school. Nick Macdonald was one of our best friends, and even though years and distance make it harder to be as close, it was remarkably easy talking to him and laugh about nonsense.

We also went to Olive Garden, watched the Greatest Showman, played with the kiddos, and went out for breakfast the next morning. The weekend went by fast, but it was nice to spend time with her and the kiddos, and I look forward to doing it more.

 

Sean, you are missed so much already. Thank you for your service, and for being an amazing husband to the best person I know.

 

 

-TZ