When first I had my daughter I decided to make it a point to not get all girlie.
Bows, dresses, headbands, pink. PINK EVERYTHING.
I even dressed her mostly in The Chief's green hand-me-downs because it seemed really under-the-radar cool. Like I was more about being practical than prissy and that made me above all the frills. My daughter rocks the frogs and giraffes and so what?
Aa.
Lucy bought me two bags of baby bows. For the first year of her life Lucy's daughter Betsy never went without one jelled onto her little head.
I said, "I don't know."
Lucy said, "Just try it."
I couldn't get them to stay on for more than an hour.
Chup requested I give it up.
Ab.
I have this . . . well . . . my dad calls it "squishy", I have this squishy body. A soft, I-just-gave-birth body, full of curves and flesh. The cheeks on my face have come to full bloom, as have the stretch marks on my lower abdomen. I have lasting proof of fertility all over my being and until I stop the breast-feeding, this substance is here to stay. I would tell it to get comfortable, but it already has.
A year of this body. This one. This body that makes me feel (secretly sassy).
And insecure too.
And I don't have to tell you (but I will) that Chupie likes my extra curvies.
Ac.
Lucy is pregnant.
Ad.
I've been shopping for this body lately. This one. The one that gets to have voluptuous sizes and generous proportions. I take time to consider each piece I purchase carefully: how will it look draped over all of this? I've never done that before. I guess this body is lucky that way.
Ae.
Lucy is seventeen weeks. Not showing yet. Petite and pretty and strong, my sister.
Af.
I want Ever to always love her body. I want her pronounced cheeks to always entertain the crowds like they do now. I want to always count the rings on her thighs as a delightful pastime. I want her to be her full self, spiritually and physically.
Ag.
The more I love her, funny enough, the more I love my body for making her.
All the extra of me is for Ever. But maybe not, forever. I don't know.
Isn't that poetic?
What? A Close Up? What? With drool? Don't ask twice . . .
Ah.
I have started putting bows on Ever.
Ai.
Lucy is having a boy.
announcing . . . sister in law week:
HAAAPPPPPY BIRRRRTHDAAAAY!
I am c jane and I had fun writing this post .
contact me:
cjanemail@gmail.com
The Jed Wells Headshot Project
82 Pieces of Opinion:
Congratulations to Lucy!!
Don't be to be so strick to you! You look amazing!! You are an amazing woman!
Congratulations to Lucy!
Ever looks so cute... she looks like a cross between The Chief and Stephanie's Nic! xx
Ever is edible, I'm sure of it.
Yay for Lucy! :)
Ever is wearing the perfect baby girl outfit! comfy, cool, sassy and fun, and not a hit of pink (except that lovely baby skin!)
x.
I could never get the KY to stick either with my little one. Congratulations Lucy!!!! And Ever is adorable. And you always look sassy........
Ever...looks like Chup!
Seriously, I did the whole sharp intake of breath when I got to the news about Lucy. How exciting for all of you!
I was chatting with friends over the weekend and several of us mentioned body goals. Then one friend shared that her only goal was to accept her body how it was. I was immediately jealous and am working on changing my goal to the same.
I have no doubt you can raise a girl with a good body image.
The ky never worked for me either- I used corn syrup. Just a little drop and believe me, it will stick. I like the ribbon all the way around how you did it though too. Ever is cute but- go out and get her a dress girl! You're missing out on all the fun of girls! It doesn't have to be pink or frilly.
She's the cutest EVER!(sorry if it's been done before.)
A delightful post, indeed, but more importantly, what is your hair secret?! I'm sure I'm not the only one that'd kill for your mane. Just gorgeous!
If you're ever feeling down 'cause of your lovely curves, remember that you have something other people may be lusting after. ;)
Congrats Lucy! cjane, you look AMAZING! I love the hair and you are just glowing like you are truly happy. And Ever is just beautiful.
Congrats to Lucy!!
I love Ever's brown eyes. Congratulations to Lucy!
FAbulous! Oh yeah....Tell your parents in St. Louis...these are a couple yummy places to eat. Lion's Choice.....Steak & Shake....White Castle.
My sister, queen of the baby hair bows, uses glue for the bows. Yes, Elmer's glue. She says it's water soluble, non-toxic and sticks those bows better than KY or honey or Karo Syrup (she's tried all of them)
For me, I just stick with the stretchy headbands to keep the bows on.
Miss Courtney YOU ROCK THE KAZBAH!!! So sweet your little Ever. You are sassy no matter what. And I love your hair!!! It is so long and awesome :)
I love the bow! :)
Seeing your little Ever makes me want to explode with excitement for our first little one to join our family. Two and a half months and I feel as though I can hardly wait. Ever is scrumptious and I'm sure all who see her could devour her in .2 seconds.
Many happy wishes and congratulations to Lucy and her beautiful family. A girl and now a boy, what a blessing!
I've had a hunch Lucy was pregnant when (I think Nie) mentioned two new babies on the way...I guessed Lucy might be one having a baby...I'm SO happy to know I'm rigth! Congratulations to Lucy and family!
I love you embracing your body, it really does help me embrace my (I've birthed 9 babies body) body, cause I really want that petite frame back! Truly, I mean that..it helps me a lot!
Yay - congrats Lucy! (And secretly jealous...I was squishy before I even conceived, and now I am 15 weeks, and showing. Arrrgh.)
I am all for frogs & duckies, no matter the gender. Something my mom & I still argue about. :)
she is soooo precious!! i love the bow!
"The more I love her, funny enough, the more I love my body for making her"
that was beautiful... I had my kids 10 and 5 years ago and still have issues with my body and how much it changed (and how frustrated I can get that it has un-changed) but I think, that seeing you write that and keeping that in my heart whenever I look in the mirror- might be really good for me.
Thank you for your insight XOXO
That was an awesomely adorable post Courtney!
You look stunning in that picture! Ever is delightful! And congratulations to Lucy, I'm sure her baby will always look like a little gentleman!
You are the definition of sassy and sexy and in your face beauty. Woman like you make it seem so effortless and make woman like me envious. You are soooo lucky to have curves like that and confidence like this and convictions like so. This is why I keep reading your blog. There aren't enough woman like you in our world. A real woman with substance and strength and smarts. So there!
Congratulations to Lucy and her little family.
Miss Ever is lookinig ever so yummy with her chubby cheeks and beautiful eyes.
Your words about embracing your voluptuous post partum self is what I needed to read this morning as I attempted to put on my "last Summer's" articles of clothing and failed miserably at doing so. For some reason my birthing hips are still thinking they need to be birthing if you catch my drift. THANK YOU for reminding me why my body is the way it is and that my husband loves him some curves. You rock. Yes...yes you do.
You are beautiful, curves and all. I wish I were as comfortable with my curves...
Congrats to Lucy!!! Another baby to snuggle on, that is wonderful.
You are doing great, don't forget it. Also, with all the things you teach Miss Ever, please teach her to sing and entertain the crowds like you do :) I am still laughing about your performance at CBC! :)
Congrats to Lucy!
I also had a hard time developing a good relationship with my post babies body, but I like your attitude, so maybe that will help. I also want my daughters to love their bodies, so I try to restrain myself from making despairing comments about my own...
Thanks for this post.
And I never even tried to get bows on either of my daughters heads. I failed them in that way, I guess.
I love reading your blog! By the way you write I can tell exactly how you would be talking and it's awesome to read. Does that make sense? I like the way you talk? Anyways! Congrats to your sister on her new baby boy!
Yay for Lucy and yay for baby boys!
Green is my favorite color and I think Ever can and probably does rock it.
I cannot believe how much she looks like The Chief in that list pic. Preshussss.
Congrats to Lucy!!! How perfect, a girl and boy. And Ever is precious as always, drool or no drool.
As a person who has struggled with body image my whole life, I LOVED this post. Your efforts to embrace and love your body inspire me to do the same. You ARE so beautiful, sexy, and magnetic. Keep up the fun blogging, it makes my day.
Good luck shopping for the curvy body. It's fun....
Wait, she's 15 weeks and already knows she's having a boy?
Hooray for new babies! A boy will give her a break from all of those bows! He'll rock those frogs and giraffes of his own.
I think the secret to a good body image for your daughter is for her to see you have a good body image about yourself! I always put to much emphasis on how I looked when I was younger. I was super thin. Then after having 5 kids and working on #6 in the oven right now all in 10 years, I am no longer thin!!! My husband to loves the extra curves, but when I have been able to lose some of it he loves that as well. But still I feel not so pretty anymore. I think a big part of it was my mother. She never felt good about her body and my dad made horrible comments to her. Then she always put such emphasis on me being thin and how beautiful I was, and thin. Like my beauty was because I was thin. So feel beautiful, and show that to your daughter. NO matter what size you or she is!
I am trying just that with my daughters. Telling them they are just right for them and they will always be beautiful because they are daughters of God. I also emphasize when I am trying to lose weight it is because I want to be healthy, not skinny!
a.) Congratulations Lucy!!!
b.) Love the bow on your sweet Ever!
c.) Pink isn't so bad on girls, especially a bright, sassy pink. This is my favorite color on my own chubby babe.
d.) Embracing this post baby body (even the 4th time around) is tricky. I try to remember that this extra fluff (that's what I call it anyway) that I'm carrying around is all for Eva, but I'll admit it's tough.
e.) You look gorgeous!
f.) I'm done.
Congrats to Lucy! That is so exciting! Your sweet Ever is scrumptious! And I don't feel down about your post-baby body, you look beautiful!
i can SO relate to the SQUISHY feeling! Simon was born in january and i'm still feeling it. And i'm also one of those that has a hard time losing it while i'm breastfeeding. good for you for embracing it! ;)
Lol! I wanted to avoid the pink and the frill too. It didn't last ;D
Congratulations to Lucy! Now you will both have a boy and a girl! Ever is getting more and more precious each day, and I have to say I do love the bows! Enjoy your body, and be proud of it! A woman should embrace her curves, especially after producing such a gorgeous, healthy baby!
Congratulations Lucy!
Ever is adorable in the bows.
Ohhhhhh!!!! She is SO adorable! And girls really are WAY fun - just give in to the frills and enjoy! :)
It is also kind of weird that certain body types "suit" people ... I think yours suits you perfectly.
Congratulations to Lucy!!!
I know JUST what you mean about "squishy"... my biggest baby (boy#2, who was posterior) blessed me with squishiness, and rather than get depressed about it, I just look at boy#2 and feel... blessed! ;)
Gosh, I think Ever may just be the cutest baby I have ever seen and I had 4 of the cutest myself! But she is just amazing!
Congrats to Lucy!
Wonderful news.
Indie
Found you through Azucar.
"This body that makes me feel (secretly sassy)."
lol. And let's be honest; who among us hasn't felt secretly sassy at some point or another?
Love it! Ever is adorable!! And you, my dear, are gorgeous. FYI.
I have three girls. With my first I did EXACTLY what you mentioned. I rebelled against the PINK and the frill, and the girlieness (a word??) and she wore primary colors and overalls. Then when she went to school she would ONLY wear jeans and t-shirts. Never could get her to wear a dress...and now, at 13?? She still won't wear dresses. My 2nd was more feminine, but in a "sporty" way. She's the girl in a twirly dress with her soccer kleats. LOVE it. My 3rd? Well, let's just say Miss Caroline is ALL GIRL. She loves dresses, bows, ballerinas and dolls the others would never touch. I love that, too. You could say I've experienced every "degree" of girl. Anyway, love your posts and love Ever's outfit and bow. :)
L,
Kelly
P.S. Congrats to Lucy!
Enjoy it! It all goes by so fast!
I don't have a post-baby body quite yet (no babies), but have developed a bit more post-nuptials squishiness. I have been struggling to lose much of it for the past few months, and my husband DESPISES how down on myself I get about it, for he loves the curves. Your post inspired me to text him the following:
"I've decided that I have a curvy, delicious body and I'm gonna like it, dangit!"
He has never responded to a text so quickly: "??? Really??? GOOD!!!"
So thanks for making both his and my day with this newfound attitude. Now if I can just get it to stick... ;)
What a wonderful post!!! I hope that for your daughter too! And for all!!
Aa. CJane, you are beautiful. Always will be.
Ab. Ever looks adorable. Always will. With or without bows on her head.
Ac. Congratulations to Lucy!
p.s. I had fun writing this comment:)
Oh, stick with the bow! Adorable! I love Ever's outfit. She is not too girly even with the bow!
This almost made me cry! My baby girl is almost 5 months old and my extra 20 pounds is here to stay until I stop breastfeeding as well. You statement about loving your body the way it is right now because it gave you your little girl....really hit home. Thank you for reminding me to not get frustrated with the new (not forever) me and to go put a bow on my baby.
Aa. Love the pictures of you, Lucy, and Ever.
Ag. Yes, that is poetic.
Ai. Congratulations to Lucy! I love having both a boy and a girl!! Mine are 14 and 11 and they make my life very happy. :)
I'm Wendi, and I had fun reading your post, as always. :)
CJane, such a sweet post. I was just reading another blog with a very similar topic. http://www.daringyoungmom.com/2010/06/15/summer-swimsuit-challenge/ Thought that you might find it interesting.
When you come to Missouri, come in the fall, late September or so. It's lovely and it won't be too hot (like now). Hang in there.
my oh my. I was so secretly proud of you for never posting the typical baby girl bow pictures...but trust me I had two girls and caved into the bows myself. It's a pull stronger than gravity..."Attach baby bow to head...RIGHT NOW!" but I'm not all that girly myself. My new little boy looks so perfectly manly with his unadorned head and Ever can totally work her bow. awesome.
My dad calls me squishy too.
LOL
Congratulations Lucy!!! What a lucky boy, he has more boy cousins than he can shake a stick at.
My son is 11 months old and I am so *charmed* by the idea that I might lose a little roundosity when I stop breastfeeding him. Not that I begrudge it, but yeah, that would be nice.
You are a very pretty lady cjane- with really nice hair, and I just know your going to make Ever so comfortable in her own skin just for being her mom!
congrats Lucy! I am really thrilled!- obviously i dont know her but she just seems really lovely!
Ever's eyebrows are perfect. And now there's no need to worry if people will make puns out of her name, because her mom was the first to do it (forEVER)...heh heh.
Love, love, love. And congratulations to Lucy!
Elmers glue for bows. water soluble and they never fall off. Just squish a warm washcloth on them at night and they fall right off. And after 2 boys, my house exploded in pink and I embraced it and loved the girlie side I never knew I had. Go girls!
Lucy félicitations!! un garçon bébé, comment passionnant
Ever is so cute!! Adorable. I love her cheeks. How do you manage to get through the day without kissing on them 24/7?
You look beautiful. Curves are very sexy, and I hope you enjoy every moment of your time having them. Flaunt them :)
--Mari
congratulations lucy! awesome news! ps if we have another girl, we're naming her lucy, unless she comes with another name... but hooray!!!
Omgosh, Ever is SOOOO adorable!! Why am I surprised? The Chief is the cutest thing in the world!
Embrace your curves, girl! Some day you'll be an old woman, frail, who can barely keep any weight on and you'll look back at those pics and say, "This is when I was young, and fertile, and vuluptuous...and my husband couldn't keep his hands off me!" Enjoy it!! :))
I loved this post!!! Ever looks so cute with her bows! And congrats to Lucy! Good for her :)
Congratulations to Lucy!!! Now you sisters can just exchange baby clothes!!! Then you'll get to see all of the Chief's clothes again. so much fun!!!
whoop whoop for Lucy... tell that stylish sister of yours to get a blog :)
I think Ever is very cute. I'm glad that you're cool in your skin- it's a good feeling.
If it makes you feel better... I am in my early twenties and have yet to have a baby, but I have streach marks, too. Don't ask where :/
First time I've commented. I like this post...In my opinion it is the best one yet to show off your writing talents and it made me feel better about my 50+body and made me wish your thoughts were here 18 years ago to help me understand....Thanks Ruth
i am 18 weeks pregnant too! (with our own Ever :)
and dear god, i am DEFINITELY showing. sigh.
i honestly dont know how people put bows on baby's heads after 4 or so months. All my four daughters HATED anything on their head. A bow here lasts 3.5 seconds before it is ripped off.
If you can do the bow thing.. do it.. I am jealous!!
Courtney,
You're body is looking pretty good from what I've seen since you've given birth, and granted that's not a lot, but you sure definitely look awesome.
Congrats to Lucy! And EVER is ADORABLE!! LOVE the bows--and yeah, how 'bout a dress with the bow, Courtney? Just once for us? PLeeease?? LOL. Hugs, Lori
I am fifteen weeks and showing!!! Of course, I'm not petite, I have a squishy, curvy body myself.
I have a squishy body too (only in my case it's comfort eating after miscarriages) and I'm learning to love it. Or at least love it enough to tone it up a bit in preparation for future squishiness. ;-)
Many many congrats to Lucy! (I must confess I knew about a week ago when somebody (bored in a hospital) may have posted about it on Twitter - have been waiting for your announcement)
I love your attitude about the extra curves,etc.! I remember feeling a bit blue about having the baby belly staying around a lot longer than I liked after having babies and I was apologizing about the way I looked one day with a friend and he said the most wonderful thing ever! He told me that he loved that about his wife because that was where their babies grew up. Now whenever I look down and see that extra stuff hanging around I remember that that is where my babies grew up and I feel so much better about it! Ever is adorable! Have fun with all the hair bows!
oh my gosh i love your baby! and that picture of you and your sister is beautiful- how is your whole family so gorgeous? loves it!!
I LOVE what you say about embracing your body. We are so much more than our bodies, but it's easy to forget with the world yelling at us.
Your babies will be blessed to have a Mother who loves herself because of WHO she is... a daughter of God.
Ever is delicious and Lucy is a glowing Mama!
LOVE this post!!!! Congrats Lucy! So exciting! AND Ever is the cutest sweetpea ever!!!!!
cjane you look gorgeous! Love your hair!
Where did you get that flower in your hair? So cute, I'm dying to know!
i love the way you talk about yourself and your body image. it really has impacted me to stop nagging myself about this little bit here or that there, and just be proud and thankful for the body that gets me where i go, and has gotten me where i am, including carrying my 2 children. that it is something to embrace, not constantly scold. thank you for this reminder.
Please pass along my congrats to Lucy (I've known her since 1st grade, but we've sadly lost contact). I am also 17 weeks pregnant!
--Ann Knudsen (Jones)
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