2 Cents: Why Moms Should Wear Swimsuits to the Pool

Jessie talked about THIS ARTICLE on the show this week and I wanted to add my "2 cents"!

I've never been super comfortable in a swimsuit, even in high school- but I've made it a personal goal to always be willing to wear a swimsuit to the pool. It's not an issue right now, because I've been pretty happy with my body. But I don't know where I'll be in 5, 10, 15 years. But I always want to be in a swimsuit when my family is at the pool. I don't want to be the one sitting in the chair, not playing because I'm too insecure about my body. 

1. No one is judging us. They’re too focused on judging themselves.

I 100% agree with the idea that no one is really judging you at the pool- because they're too busy being insecure about themselves. And if they are judging how your body looks- who really cares? What will their opinion do to you? There was a mom at the pool last week wearing a 2 piece and she had the mommy, flabby tummy that was hanging over her bottoms. Yes I noticed, but I didn't care. At all! All of our bodies are so different. They're different when we are toddlers, teenagers, pregnant and mothers. And the more little girls and young women can see adult women's bodies, the more they will begin to understand what real women look like (and hopefully be able to embrace their own)

I really had an awesome moment on our trip to Mexico.http://meganbainum.blogspot.com/2015/12/mexican-beaches-and-fruity-beverages.html I wore a bikini all day every day for 6 days. And there was nothing more liberating and freeing. I was surrounded by people I didn't know- so it made it easier for me to not care what people thought. But not just that- I was surrounded by people of all body types, who were also wearing bikinis. Not shorts covering up their cottage cheese butts or shirts to cover up their soft tummies. By the end of the week I was 100% comfortable in my own skin- even after a week of fruity drinks and unlimited food!

2. It’s an excellent example for our kids.

Yes! Is my body "perfect"? No. Will it ever look "perfect" in a swimsuit? No. Will Mckenzie's body ever be "perfect"? No. But if she grows up seeing her mom in a swimsuit (and comfortable in it) then I would hope she will be able to be comfortable in one too. I also think it's important to not talk about being in a swimsuit. Just put it on and have a fun day. No need to point out how much of a favor you're doing for your kids by being in one. Every daughter grows up thinking her mom is beautiful- we shouldn't be the ones trying to convince them they're wrong about us. 

3. It doesn’t have to be a bikini. It can be a good ol’ fashioned belly-covering swimsuit.

Mexico made me embrace the 2 piece swim suit and bikini. I wore a bikini 6 months pregnant when we went to Lagoon and played at the pool last week. But I also have a 1 piece I really like (when it fits- it's not conducive to my growing belly). I think it's important to find a swimsuit you can be comfortable in. 

Just remember-  unless you're 15, no one really cares how you look.

Hi Baby Boy: 25 Weeks

Hi little man,

I'm sorry I haven't written very many letters to you. Your big sister is keeping me busy, and I'm sure that will be the theme of your life sometimes. But that's OK. I know once you get here one of you will have to wait a little longer than usual for something you want/need. It's going to be a pretty big shift for your sister. She's used to being the center of our universe and we've been happy to give her that one on one attention!

Your dad and I were joking last night about how much we're going to love you in comparison to your sister. Should I be telling you this?? Maybe not. It's just hard to believe we can love and adore anything as much as we love and adore Mckenzie. We joked and said "people tell us it's possible...but we won't believe it until we feel it". But it's only a half-hearted joke because of COURSE we're going to love you just as much. I really can't wait for you to get here. I am so excited to have another baby. I would have 10 children if I could because all that love and happiness you feel about one? Why wouldn't you want to times that by ten? I have truly loved being a mom these past 2 years, and having you join us in just over 3 months is going to be icing on the cake.

I feel you moving around in my belly much more than I ever did the first time around. My OB says the first one is always the one you feel the least. You have some pretty powerful kicks and jabs already and every once in a while it makes me jump/jerk around because it startles me! But I love it. You're moving right now and it's such an amazing feeling to know you're healthy and growing inside my belly.

This pregnancy has gone by much quicker for me. I remember when I found out I was pregnant I thought about how you'll be here just 3 months after Mckenzie turns 2 (which felt like a long time). Well Mckenzie will be 2 in less than 2 weeks! Which means we're in the home stretch and it's only a few more months before I'm holding you in my arms.

As I took a nap today I thought back to that first phase (that seems to last forever) of no sleep. So right now I'm napping almost every day, and enjoying every second of it. Your sister has always loved to sleep, so I don't see her dropping her nap anytime soon (KNOCK ON WOOD) but I would assume having 2 kids means it's pretty much impossible to get a nap fit in somewhere. But I also feel much more ready for that phase, because I've been there before and I know it ends eventually. I'm really hoping/planning on it being a little easier this time around.

Well my love, I just wanted to check in and let you know I think about you every day. Your dad and I talk about you every day, and your sister...claims you sometimes :)

Stay strong and keep growing my baby,

xoxo
Mom

My 3 Most Memorable Visits to Olive Garden

I had some time to kill before a meeting, and I had an Olive Garden gift card. So....table for 1 please!

As I enjoyed my soup and salad I couldn't help but think about the past visits. I think everyone has been to Olive Garden like 23078 times right? Even if not recently? Anyway- here are a few memories:

My 3 Most Memorable Visits to Olive Garden

February 14, 2010- Logan UT

My first Valentine's Day with Bart. We went at like 4:30PM because he wanted to avoid the crowds. He succeeded. We were surrounded by everyone over 60 and it was totally cute. We had been exclusively dating for about 4 months and totally in love. He gave me a necklace that said "eternity" on it and I remember thinking that was some kind of hidden message that HE WANTED TO BE WITH ME FOREVER **all the heart eyes**

*side memory** I'm also remembering this Olive Garden in Logan is where I met Bart's family for the first time. The gang was all there. I remember his older brother and I bonded over our hatred for tomatoes. My hair was pretty crazy, but they didn't seem to mind. It was a successful dinner.

June 2012- West Valley UT

I'm a new intern at ABC4 and my coordinating producer Roxanne takes me, another intern, and the Daily Dish producer out to lunch. It was awkward and horrible. They didn't say a word to me. They were BFF's and I was just....not. I spent the whole time wondering why they even invited me and that I had nothing to contribute to the conversation.

This obviously wasn't a great memory- but the story doesn't end there. Once I got hired, my new friend and mentor Rox and I went out to Olive Garden a lot. She always ordered dessert first. She introduced me to their lemon cups. They're so good. Next time you go- get one! Conversation was never a problem.

Rox has been gone for 6 months now, and I've been thinking of her a lot lately. And whenever I think about Olive Garden, I think of Rox and her dessert first and those lemon cups.

That's the beauty of memories- they stay with us, even when our friends are no longer here. We can look back and remember the fun times and good experiences and enjoy their memory for a few minutes.

February 14, 2014- American Fork UT

Fast forward 4 years after that first Valentines Day with Bart. I'm 3 months pregnant with Mckenzie and in full Hashimotos diet mode. My dad takes my sisters and I out for a Valentine's Day date. They still don't quite comprehend the fact that I can't eat gluten (yes, pasta is gluten) and choose to go to Olive Garden. I ask for the gluten free menu. The server hands me a three page menu. Complete with yummy options like ravioli and alfredo. As I go to order, the server grabs the menu and says no, the gluten free options are only on the back. I scan the list: chicken, fish, red sauce- and burst into tears. Not a trickling tear down my cheek. Like sobbing, tears flowing freely. I wrote about the whole experience you can enjoy HERE


One thing I love about going out by myself is the chance I have to just think- and yesterday as I was sitting all alone, I had a great time thinking of my Olive Garden memories. (and their salad dressing is just SO GOOD. )

Potty talk

If you're sick of hearing about potty training- too bad. It's the new sleep training in my life and it's all consuming! Also, my auto correct hates the word pee and hopefully it will get the message after this blog post to GET OVER IT. 

We're at the end of day 3 and my overall feeling is still optimistic. I read "Oh Crap! Potty Training" where the author says it's about the child going from 

clueless-> I peed-> I'm peeing-> I need to pee. 

On day one I never noticed Mckenzie at "clueless" the last few weeks she has been pointing at her diaper and saying poop! (Her word for poop and pee). She very quickly passed the "I peed" stage and went straight for "I'm peeing". 

We have been hovering around "I'm peeing" and "I need to pee" for the last 2 days. She either says poop! with enough time for us to get her to the potty, or she says poop! as she is starting to pee and then holds it as we're rushing her and finishes on the potty. 

Poop hasn't been an issue and she's never had an accident with poop. So there's a bright shining star- right? 

She has only had a few straight up accidents where she doesn't even attempt to make it to the potty. 95% of the time she is letting us know. It's just 40% of that time is a second too late. I know each day she will give more and more warning, and I know it's all connecting in her head. 

At the end of each day you can tell she is just exhausted and she's in bed at least 30 minutes earlier than normal- and I don't blame her. She is tackling an entire new way of doing something that for the past 2 years, has been the same. I don't think we give kids enough credit when it comes to realizing what we're asking of them. Whenever I get irritated or frustrated I try to remember that 4 days ago she wasn't doing any of this. And in that perspective, she is kicking some major butt.