Blog - It's Simply Lindsay

01/25/19

Happy 2nd birthday Olive Shea

Oh, my Olive Shea – where do I even begin? Happy 2nd birthday, my sweet baby girl. I’m writing this as I’m watching you play with your sister, and my heart just swells with love for you – it always has. Ever since you were born, I was completely enamored with you, and that feeling has never stopped. There’s something so special and different about you that it’s hard to describe – it’s more of a feeling – and even someone who is around you for a few minutes or sees a video of you can sense it.

You are the funniest person I have ever met – you’re hilarious without trying, you make me laugh without even talking – your facial expressions and body language are funny. You just have that “it” factor.

In an effort to keep up with your big sis, you followed her suit and did everything quick – walking at 9 months, talking in complete sentences very early, singing songs, and dancing like you’re much older than you are. I have full-blown, adult conversations with you, and you make me laugh. Every. Single. Time.

It’s impossible to get mad at you because your face is just SO DARN CUTE – I can’t even handle it! You just gave me one of those cheesy, toothy, full-face smiles, and I seriously get butterflies in my stomach. You’re something else. You’re my smart, sweet, salty, hilarious, wild, strong-willed, loving girl, and my life and the world is better with you in it. Thanks for being born Olive Shea bay bay.

01/21/19

7 day healthy meal plan

Welcome to part two of my healthy eating meal plan – be sure to check out week one for more ideas.

Here’s a little background: My Instagram followers requested me to share my healthy eating progress after my third baby, so each week I’m sharing what I’ve been eating with updates about my results.

Before I was pregnant with my first, eating healthy and working out was a huge part of my life. During my two-year engagement, I lost 30 pounds the healthy way – slow, steady, and by making a daily commitment to cleaner foods and actually heeding portions and serving sizes.

Working out was a part of my daily routine, which is where my AB CHALLENGE circuit came from (it also happens to be my most popular pin on Pinterest).

I’ve given birth to three darling girls in January 2015, January 2017, and January 2019; each pregnancy proved increasingly more difficult, to say the least, and in the end, it was just about surviving day-to-day.

01/21/19

Happy 4th birthday, Ginny

Happy 4th birthday, my Ginny girl! You bring so much life, love, and energy to everyone you meet and everywhere you go. You’ve always been ahead of your time, but your brightness shines even more this year – not just because of your crazy extensive vocabulary and concepts you grasp, but your emotional intelligence and sensitivity.

You were there for ME – your adult mom – YOU, a 3-year-old – through so much. You were there to be pure sweetness and give me hugs when I was sad about Grandpa; you were there when I was sick for 10 months and when I could hardly even walk. You have been so patient and loving when your sister has been having some two-year-old mood swings. You do all of this, and it’s hard to remember that you’re only 4-years-old because you’re truly ahead of your time.

People always say it, and it’s true – you just have this specialness about you – it’s hard to describe, but to know you is to feel this about you. Grandma Ginny and Grandpa John maybe sense this the most; you’re so loved, Ginny, and surrounded by people who are crazy about you. Grandma, Papa, Nana, Grampy, all of your aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends – you are so loved, and daddy and I are amazed and proud of you every day. In fact, there’s not one night that goes by that we don’t lay in bed and recount the magical things you said and did that day.

Happy birthday, my love, my Ginny who made me a mom.

01/17/19

Superfood Quinoa Bowl

I’ve been on a healthy food kick after coming off of the worst third pregnancy and am finally able to eat and be excited about food again. You can follow me on Instagram and check out my weekly meal posts (here is part 1) for more inspiration and ideas, but I am especially excited about this Superfood Quinoa Bowl.

What is a superfood? While there are no such foods, nutritionally speaking, it’s a marketing term coined to label nutrient-rich, healthy foods, and this quinoa bowl is packed with them.

Prepare yourself to see lots of quinoa bowl recipes from me in the future! They’re extremely easy to make ahead of time or on-the-fly, it’s a great way to get your veggies in, and they’re packed with nutrients and flavor. Hello, new favorite lunch.

01/14/19

Healthy eating meal plan- week 1

Who’s ready for my healthy eating meal plan, week 1 edition? My Instagram followers have requested me to share my healthy living progress after my third baby, so each week I’ll post what I’ve been eating and updates with my results.

Here’s the background – before I was pregnant with my first, eating healthy and working out was a huge part of my life. During my two-year engagement, I lost 30 pounds the healthy way – slow, steady, and by making a daily commitment to cleaner foods and actually heeding portions and serving sizes.

Working out was a part of my daily routine, which is where my AB CHALLENGE circuit came from (it also happens to be my most popular pin on Pinterest).

I’ve given birth to three darling girls in January 2015, January 2017, and January 2019; each pregnancy proved increasingly more difficult, to say the least, and in the end, it was just about surviving day-to-day.

rules for visiting a newborn - it's simply lindsay

01/1/19

12 rules for visiting a newborn

There’s really nothing better than babies, except maybe newborn babies; it’s only natural that out of your love, support, and excitement for the new baby in your life that you want to visit right away. In the midst of all of your love and enthusiasm, there’s something you might overlook – the wishes and needs of the family, especially the momma.

Before popping over for an impromptu or even scheduled visit, take these 12 tips to heart and mind. Keep in mind the mother just gave birth; she’s most likely not rested, not eating or drinking properly, and is adjusting to life with her new little one.

Even the most well-adjusted moms are going through a very delicate time, physically, mentally, and emotionally, whether they realize it or not, whether they show it or not.

If you plan on visiting a new baby soon, take these rules into consideration.