2013 Reflection

Today is New Year’s Eve, and like every other year I like to take a little while and reflect on everything that’s happened this past year. 2013 truly was the best year of our lives thus far, I can’t imagine anything could possibly top it but am very much looking forward to what 2014 has in store.

On January 1, 2013 I woke up excited to once again begin a New Year. Brian and I had just gone through a very painful end to 2012 and were anxious to move past it and begin anew. But when I woke up that morning I felt “off” and in thinking about it realized that my last period had been in November. I tried not dwell for too long because my cycle had been crazy since my surgery but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different. I looked in our medicine cabinet and there was one last pregnancy test remaining from the last box. I remember literally shaking as I took the test out of the wrapper. After taking the test I put it down and walked away. I went about my morning routine of making the bed and getting dressed. As I happened by the bathroom on my way to the linen closet I poked my head in and glanced at the test. I said out-loud “Rachael, you’re crazy it’s going to be negative” … so when I saw a very faint positive I practically fell over. I started laughing and then crying realizing that according to the test I was in fact pregnant. Brian was at work and there was no way I was going to share that news over the phone. I spent the day pacing up and down the hall, I went to CVS and bought a second test just to “make sure” and when that one was also positive I couldn’t contain my excitement. When Brian returned home from work, I told him I had a present for him. I made him close his eyes and handed him the test. He looked at it then at me and slowly a smile spread across his face. I could tell he was cautious about his excitement but at the same time I could see in his eyes how happy he was. It wasn’t until a few days later when I had my first ultrasound and we saw the tiniest little flutter on the screen that we could breathe! It had happened! We kept the secret to ourselves for two weeks and even then only told our immediate families. We met my parents for dinner and told them we’d found a Christmas present that we’d forgotten to give them. I pulled out an envelope and the moment my mother opened it she started to cry. She literally jumped out of her chair! It was the best reaction in the world. The next night we invited my in-laws for dinner and before they arrived we dressed Berklee in a “Big Sister” t-shirt. When Brian’s parents saw the shirt they were ecstatic! It truly was the very best start to a year we’d ever had!

Exactly thirty days later on January 31^st my life changed forever (again) when Sarah gave birth to a perfect 7 pound little boy! We had been anxiously awaiting his birth for weeks and when the announcement came my heart burst! I couldn’t WAIT to meet him and hold him. My sister was a MOTHER! Before C was born, I’d never really understood the love shared between and aunt and her nieces/nephews. But once he was born, I got it; because I knew that I would do anything and everything I could to help protect that little boy forever. I began to look imagine birthdays and events, watching him grow and learn…being an aunt became the most important job I’d ever had and I couldn’t wait to get started!

On February 28^th, my 29^th birthday  after six blood tests and four ultrasounds we had made it to the “safe zone” and felt ready to announce our pregnancy to the world. We took some time and called or saw close friends and some family first so feelings wouldn’t be hurt when we put it on social media. We tried to come up with a creative way to post it without having to “say” anything. Brian came up with the idea of using Berklee as our model. So we stacked two of my pregnancy books – “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and “1,001 Baby Names” on top of each other and had her sit with them. We took her photo and then uploaded it as our new profile pictures on Facebook. We left it at that. Within minutes our phones were blowing up like crazy with people texting, calling, commenting on our “announcement” – some people were a bit confused (which I found funny) and thought we were announcing Berklee’s pregnancy! It was a really fun way to put it out there for the world. At the same time, Brian and I had a very long conversation about how much we were going to share throughout my pregnancy. Up to that point I had been very active on social media, so much so that people would often make comments about not needing to see us because they knew our every move. It was those comments that made me decide that this pregnancy was going to be ours and ours alone. I vowed I would never post a picture of my ultrasounds online (I feel like that’s taking the whole sharing thing a bit too far for my liking) and that I would keep my pregnancy related posts to a minimum. Having gone through what we did, we really wanted to have my pregnancy be a personal and private journey between us, our child and our families. And we stuck to it; yes we posted some minor events and talked about our due date and gender reveal party but I wasn’t posting every move he made, or about every appointment I went to – it just wasn’t something I was going to share with the world in that manner.

 

After a lot of talking back and forth, and a little convincing on my part, Brian and I decided we were going to jump on the Gender Reveal bandwagon. We started coming up with ideas and plans on how and where we were going to do it. We decided it was going to be an intimate gathering at our house with friends and family. We had to keep the gender a secret for almost two weeks after we found out because my parents were away on vacation and we wanted to include them in the party. On April 17^th, a chilly day, 25 of our nearest and dearest descended upon our house. We went with a “mini” food theme and made all small bite appetizers and desserts. We used white linens and scattered pink and blue touches throughout. We put up a chalkboard and had everyone put their guess on the board. At the end of the party we brought out a big white box for the reveal. When we cut open the box a bunch of balloons were released and our families finally knew we were expecting a little boy! We couldn’t have been happier with how the party turned out and were even more excited to welcome our little guy later in the year.



The weekend of May 17^th Brian and I embarked on a mini “baby-moon.” We’d spent some time discussing taking a tropical vacation or heading to the beach somewhere, but decided to be more practical and stay close to home. We had gotten a Groupon for a cabin resort in Vermont and decided it would be perfect. My cousin Ryan and his wife joined us and we spent the weekend hiking, eating, having s’mores and just hanging out. We took Berklee and their dog Camilla with us and just had an amazing time. It may not have been extravagant by any means but it was the perfect baby-moon for us.



Adding even more excitement to our 2013, Brian’s brother was also expecting a baby boy at the end of July! He and his wife Jacyntha live in California so we see them very rarely. She had been unable to join us the previous December for Christmas as she was too early on in her pregnancy to travel safely so it had been a year and a half since I had seen her. I received an invitation to her baby shower and knew immediately I wanted to go. I secretly contacted my brother in law and told him of my plans. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to fly out to see her when the baby was born as I would be too far along myself and she wasn’t going to be able to come out when our baby was born as she would have a newborn so this was the perfect and really only opportunity for us to see each other before we became mothers. Because of my work schedule I was only able to go for the long weekend so I jumped on a 5pm flight out of Boston on Friday May 24^th, I arrived in Los Angeles at 10pm and the surprise went off without a hitch! My sister in law had NO idea I was coming! The next morning was her shower, and I had the best time. It was wonderful to really spend time talking to her sisters and cousins and they made me feel like I was part of their family. Sunday morning we went to breakfast before they dropped me back off at the airport – it was a whirlwind weekend resulting in a total of 38 hours in California. I didn’t care how tired I was, I was just so happy to have seen her and to have been able to celebrate with them!

Brian and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary on July 12^th this year. We once again had discussed varying options of trips we’d like to take, but at that point I was 32 weeks pregnant and in no condition to really travel anywhere far. We had our traditional anniversary dinner at Café Escadrille where we were married on July 11^th and the next night (our actual anniversary) we opted to see one of our favorite country singers, Jason Aldean, play at Fenway Park. It was by far the most fun concert we’d ever been too. AND to top it off, Brian in his infinite wisdom knew diamonds wouldn’t hurt. So he took my engagement ring and had it reset into the most spectacular halo setting I’ve ever seen. He loves to spoil me and every time I’m more surprised and grateful! He really is the best husband!

The next morning, July 13th was my baby shower. It was hosted by my sister at my mother’s house and it was exactly what I would have done if I planned it myself. It was a Beatrix Potter theme, based off Lucas’ nursery and it was beautiful. My in-laws are florists and there were white flower arrangements everywhere. The tables were set with white linens (an obvious favorite of our family) with baby blue, light green and yellow touches spread around. We were “showered” by 40 of our closest friends and family and we couldn’t have been more grateful at all the incredible gifts we received. Lucas was spoiled long before he was even born!



C’s christening was the weekend of July 20^th in Maine. And I was blessed and honored to be asked to be his godmother. Since the moment he was born that little boy had stolen my heart so when my sister asked me, I knew just how special that was. I promised to always be there for him, no matter what, to bring him up in the eyes of the church (whatever church that is for him) and to be his friend forever. I also promised to spoil him rotten and buy him “extra special” presents on his birthday and Christmas!

Just two short days later on July 22^nd the call came that my second nephew, Ethan, had been born in California! It was a bittersweet moment for me, because even though I was literally over the moon I was so sad that I couldn’t rush right to the hospital and see the newest addition to the Novello family. I immediately counted the days on the calendar until Christmas, when we would finally meet him! But mommy and baby did great and Ethan was born at a healthy 8 pounds 10 ounces!

For the next seven weeks Brian and I anxiously awaited the birth of our own son. We took a short trip to the Cape, did some organizing and decorating of the nursery, spent time with friends and family and began to realize how much our life was going to change.

And then it happened – on Thursday September 5^th at 8:51am we welcomed into the world the most incredibly perfect little boy we could have ever wished for. Our little Lucas Joseph was 20.5 inches and 6 pounds 13 ounces. He captured our hearts in a way that can never be described and from the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew I would literally die to keep him safe always. I had a fairly easy birth so was really able to bask in that “new family” glow. I don’t think I took my eyes off him for even a moment that first day. All I wanted to do was stare at him, amazed at what Brian and I had created and how truly blessed we were to finally hold him in our arms.

Over the course of my maternity leave it became clear to both Brian and I that I could not return to work in Boston. Within just a few days I was on the computer looking at my options. I was very lucky to stumble upon a job that was right up my alley and on the day my maternity leave was to end with my prior employer, November 4th, I started my new job with East Boston Savings Bank. The timing couldn’t have been better and I have never been happier in a job! That very same day, we listed our house for sale. I had also realized while pregnant that living in Bradford was no longer what I wanted. I wanted to raise Lucas close to my parents and ultimately in the town we grew up in. Brian and I had discussed a five-year plan, which meant we’d be back in Danvers before Lucas went to kindergarten but that plan was fast tracked and the decision was made to sell the house as soon as possible. In less than a week after putting it on the market we had an accepted signed offer and we officially closed on December 27^th. In the meantime, Brian too realized that going back to work at Enterprise at Logan was out of the question. The hours he was putting in left very little time for our family and he didn’t want to miss a thing when it came to Lucas. So, he started looking and like me the perfect opportunity arose and on December 9^th he too started a new job that he loves! He travels now every other week which is a new type of adjustment for our family but one that amazingly enough works very well for our current situation. We are living with my parents until our perfect house is either built or comes on the market. So when Brian travels I have the extra hands to help with the baby when/if I need it and I’m not alone when he’s gone – it’s the best of both worlds!

Looking back over this past year I am amazed at everything we’ve been blessed with. We are so lucky to have the life we do and I don’t for even one second take it for granted. I have an awesome husband, a son I can’t imagine life without, family that supports us and incredible friends that make every day worth having. I would live this year over in a heartbeat if I could, and as amazing as 2013 was, I am looking forward to what 2014 will bring us! We start our next chapter tomorrow – I hope you’ll keep reading!

Wishing you all a blessed and magical 2014!

True Strength of a Fit Mom

When I started competing three years ago I met Jacqueline Zediker, a woman that after spending just a few hours with I knew would be in my life forever. She was a new figure pro and had just started competing a year prior herself. We immediately hit it off and despite the fact that she lives a plane ride away in Indiana we have forged a friendship that I could have only wished for when I was younger. We have very similar personalities and our morals and beliefs are practically identical. For the last three years we have supported each other through our competition preps, job changes, relationship highs and lows, new homes, puppy adoptions, pregnancy – you name it we’ve been there for each other. And I’m so grateful to have her.

So, when she came to me a week ago and asked a favor how I could I say no? She and her friend and Optimum Nutrition teammate, Rachael Ponder, had recently started a Facebook page called True Strength of a Fit Mom. They had presented the idea to ON as something they’d like to do in connection with them and came to an agreement that they’d start it out and ON would see where it went before fully backing the idea. Jacqueline asked me to be the first “Fit Mom Motivator” for the page and sent me a questionnaire to fill out. As soon as I read the questions and looked more in depth at the Facebook page I knew it was something I wanted, no needed, to be a bigger part of. It was exactly what I had been hoping my own blog would accomplish – creating a movement of Fit Moms, showing women that it is possible to be a mother and still maintain a healthy lifestyle. I went back to Jaque with my desire to become more involved. After speaking with Rachel, they decdied they wanted me to come on board not only as the first Fit Mom Motivator but also as VIP Blogger and Contributor! I was (and still am) so honored to have this opportunity. There is nothing I love more than the idea of marrying my two loves – being a mom and being in shape!

Since this discussion we have gone back and forth with a million ideas of what we want to do with the page and how we want to it to grow. The idea pool is overflowing and we are so excited to start reaching the masses. The page/site doesn’t officially go live until January 2014 but we are already spreading the word and getting other moms to fill out their questionnaire.

My first contribution to the page was my tips on “How to Have Balance During the Holidays.” It’s a list of five small things you can do throughout the holidays (and beyond) to maintain a healthy lifestyle but also participate in and enjoy a social life!

I will also be creating some photo albums for the site; initially my weekly bump photos (that you’ve all seen) and then also my progress pictures as I begin my journey back to the stage. Additionally, I will be blogging once a week for the site and replying to questions/comments throughout the page.

Our goal is 21,000 "likes" on our Facebook page in 2014 - in less than a week we are already at 250! I am confident we will surpass 21,000 in no time!

Please take a minute to visit us at True Strength of a Fit Mom and see what we’re all about!

Perception vs. Reality

I made the declaration the other day about my return to the stage in 2014 and my desire to get my post-pregnancy body back. I have been feeling very down lately about what I see in the mirror. Outside of the ginormous breasts that have taken residence on my chest, there is really nothing that I like. I have cut myself a lot of slack up until now, reminding myself the changes aren’t in vain (I mean look at my kid! I’d do it a million times over just to have him!) but it’s been hard. I have cellulite in places I never did before, my once coveted 6-pack has been reduced to a 1-pack, I have back fat if I wear a bra that’s too tight and I swear I’ve added about 2 inches to my hips! Despite what I see and how I feel, my husband has consistently told me that I look amazing and that he loves my new mommy body. He tries very hard to get me to see what he does but I just haven’t been able to. I still refuse to wear any pants with buttons because I’m terrified they won’t fit. All of my pre-pregnancy pants are sitting in my closet collecting dust just waiting to break my heart. I have however, been able to wear 99% of my remaining pre-pregnancy clothing. I’m back in my size 2 & 4 dresses and skirts, I’ve had to upgrade my shirt/sweater size to a M because of my udders and while most women would take this as an accomplishment I still hated my figure.

Then yesterday I ran into a girlfriend of mine at the gym. She introduced me to her workout partner as a “new mom and figure competitor” – I waited for that look, the one that said “yea right, no way she’s a competitor” but instead was met with “HOLY CRAP! How old is your baby?” And when I told her L is only 3 months she was dumbfounded. She said she would never have known I just had a baby. That I look amazing and should be proud of the retained muscle tone (no matter how small)! Even though my husband and my friends have been saying these things to me for weeks hearing it from a complete stranger was a definite confidence booster! After I completed my workout I went and stood in front of the mirror in the locker room. I tried to see what she saw and just couldn’t do it. Regardless I took two pictures of myself, one from the front and one from the side. I told you guys I was going to be honest with my progress and keep you up to date so that’s what I was doing. After I’d packed my bag I decided to look at the photos and couldn’t believe what I saw. In all honesty I was shocked that it was me. What I saw in the mirror and what that picture showed were two entirely different people. I saw a frumpy, flabby, toneless, tired woman and the picture showed a tight, toned, athletic body. While it may sound conceited, I am PROUD of that picture! I know I still have a LONG way to go before I can even think about hitting the stage, I now know that I’m starting at a good place. I don’t have nearly as far to go as I once thought. If I continue to follow my coach’s program I have no doubt at all that June is a very feasible goal!

I can’t wait to see what changes come over the next 6 months in both my mind and body. I am anxious for the end result, but like my pregnancy I am going to try and enjoy every step of the progress. You can’t fully appreciate the end unless you’ve truly lived the journey!

Here I am boys & girls
3 months postpartum!

Starting weight: 137
Stage weight: 119
Pounds to go: 18

 

Operation Figure Stage Comeback!

Today is the official start of “Operation Figure Stage Comeback!"

I have allowed myself 12 weeks of rest and it’s been wonderful. I haven’t worried about what I was eating or stressed about not getting in a work out and yet I’ve managed to lose all but 3 pounds of my pregnancy weight gain. It’s been a truly fantastic experience! But now that we are in a routine of daycare and work, I feel like it’s time for mommy to refocus. A happy mommy makes for a happy baby!

As you know, prior to becoming pregnant I was a competitive figure athlete. My last competition was in October of 2011 where I placed 9^th out of 10. Coming off a winning show in July of that year I was very disheartened. I had gotten so wrapped up in the idea of winning that I had lost focus of why I compete in the first place. It isn’t all about winning. It’s about challenging myself and pushing my body to its limits! I loved the way I felt after a really solid workout; every time I hit a new personal record on an exercise I would feel a sense of accomplishment. However, after that show in October I became bitter and resentful toward the sport. Here I had just spent 12 months of my life working up to that show, busting my butt every day, altering my social life to fit in my macros and missing out on events because of workouts and practice only to place second to last in my class. I can’t even tell you how many days I cried for or how many pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream I consoled myself in. It took me a good 6 months before I was really able to swallow what had happened. I looked back at pictures and video (yes it’s out there somewhere) of the show and realized I wasn’t on point. I was holding water in my lower half, my posing was way off and ultimately I just wasn’t ready for that day. Once I accepted this I was finally able to move on. I committed to taking 2012 off as a competitor and to use that time to rebuild but remained active within my “fit fam”… I attended posing practices and shows; I supported my teammates in their prep and backstage and celebrated in their wins. It truly reaffirmed my love for the sport. When I decided in June that I was ready to prep for the INBF Monster Mash in November 2012 my coach was thrilled. We immediately started talking strategy and plans, but just a few short months in I found out I was pregnant for the first time. And I won’t lie, while I was extremely happy to be pregnant, I felt a slight twinge of sadness at knowing an entire season was going to pass by without me stepping on stage. After my miscarriage and surgery and before getting pregnant with L, I decided the best thing for me mentally would be to take the 2013 season off as well. I knew I wasn’t going to be in the right frame of mind to diet down and having just had surgery I was told I couldn’t workout for at least 6 weeks at the intensity I had been.

So for the last 12 months I have been focusing on me, my family and being the happiest I’ve ever been. I continued to support my team and keep my connection with the sport alive. I attended multiple shows and watched as some of my closest friends reach their ultimate goal of winning their pro-cards and landing sponsorships! With every accomplishment my heart swelled. I realized that was what it meant to be a true competitor. To love every aspect of the sport, whether you’re on stage yourself or just cheering on friends from the audience! On November 9^th I took Lucas to his first bodybuilding show – the WNBF World Championships in Worcester, MA. It was so great to be with my entire team, including my two coaches and their families, taking pictures and screaming names and numbers. As I sat there with one of my teammates’ husbands I felt the itch. I wanted nothing more than to run backstage, throw on a suit and my shoes and strut myself across that stage. Luckily for everyone I swallowed the urge – what a horror show that would have been! But I knew at that moment, I was ready. I was ready to recommit to this sport as a competitor, to train with a goal in mind, to throw out the “junk” and clean up my eating and to love every minute of it. I vowed to myself that this time would be different; there would be no complaints, no whining and no self-loathing. If I wanted to do this it was going to be with my head in the right place.

I leaned on my teammates for support in my decision. I knew it was going to be hard to do with Lucas needing me so much and working full time but I also know if I can organize my life then it’s all doable. I had a long heart-to-heart with my coach; we talked about dietary needs since I’m going to continue to breastfeed and also my workout schedule being consolidated to three days rather than 5. He assured me that it was doable. Our agreement at this point is that he will make the ultimate decision. If, come 16 weeks out (February 15^th) from the INBF Northeast Classic on June 7^th 2014, he thinks I can be ready then I’ll officially start prep … if he thinks I need more time then we’ll continue “off-season” diet and workouts with a plan for me to compete at the Monster Mash in November. Either way, here and now, I am putting it out in the universe … you WILL see me on stage for the 2014 bodybuilding season!

I know it’s going to be an interesting road, my body is changed forever and more than likely won’t respond to the same sort of training/diet it used to and I’m ready for that. I’m ready to see what this new me can do and what changes I can make in the next 6 months! Get ready because I’m coming!

I’ll be documenting my journey here along with the other aspects of my life – mainly Lucas – but I am hoping to show other moms out there that even with limited time you too can get the body you want!

Stay tuned!