The (NOT SO) Skinny Girl

When you are pregnant, everyone realizes- KNOWS- that you are giving up your body for another. Your body will change. You will probably gain weight, lose bone density, gain longer more luxurious locks, and lose your abs.Your whole shape may change, with wider hips and bigger (often saggier) boobs. But post birth, your body doesn't just snap back. It takes weeks, months, YEARS. Not just for your tummy, but your hips area, your boob area, your back, your ankles. Immediately, I felt the pain of the epidural. It's 10.5 months down the road, and sometimes I still do. It's getting much better. It was pretty bad for the first 6 months. My back hurt all the time as I hunched over, breastfeeding. As I bent to lift the carrier or a sock off the ground.  After 2 months, my scar was healed, but it was far from gone. It was(is) still slightly red, a glaring reminder that they cut me to save my baby. I could still feel it up until probably 6 months.  My feet were swollen for 3 wee...

As I sit behind my desk in my collared shirt and sweater with dress pants and boots on, I realize something... This is almost exactly the outfit I had once worn to the barn! I bought the sweater I'm wearing today from Izod on sale because I needed "professional" barn clothes for a barn manager job I had accepted. I was expected to dress to impress every day-- dress to impress high dollar clientele at the BARN. Yes, this is a real thing. I bought 3 Izod polos of various colors with jewels or preppy stripes/plaid on them... I bought barely used second-hand britches to replace the holey and stained ones I had had since I began my riding career. I had wonderful muck boots for when I was doing the dirty work, and I had a brand new pair of paddock boots with shiny half chaps ready to throw on when the clients arrived. I got myself a puffer vest, a Carhartt for the outdoorsy work in the winter, and a sleek fitted black all-weather jacket to throw on if I needed it when cl...