Friday, February 3, 2012
My hubs is so cool
Yes, I've got a good one. He is tall and handsome and has red hair. Well, it's not as red anymore now that he's older but he has given me 2 red headed children so far which I am thrilled about it. But anyway. My husband works really hard at everything he does. He loves taking care of finances, researching different ways to save money, does the taxes (a.k.a. all the boring stuff that I'm grateful I don't have to do!). He is neat and tidy and I rarely have to clean up after him. He craves organization in all things but has been super patient with me and my chaotic tendencies since we got married 6.5 years ago. He can be really funny and makes me laugh. That was what first attracted me to him on our first date. We had known each other since we were kids (I was 10 and he was 12) but never really knew knew each other. He asked me out and since I thought he was a nice fellow, I said yes. On our date I discovered he was funny! Who knew? He is a quiet, observational chap in crowds and gatherings, so I never had a chance to get to know him very well since that's how we were always together. Now that he is an attorney and wears spiffy business clothes every day, he is lookin' sooooo handsome {read: hot}. Mmmm hmm. He is so patient with all my researching and informing him of stuff I learn. He is supportive of my extra-curricular activities that recharge my batteries and refresh my spirits in the doldrums of young motherhood. I just think he's the neatest person and I'm so grateful to be married to him for eternity. We make a great team.
Friday, January 27, 2012
hugs
So I'm not really a hugger. Never have been. I remember in junior high it became the trend to give your friends hugs when you saw them. I felt so awkward and uncomfortable! Of course, everything is awkward and uncomfortable in junior high, but this was even more. I don't know why this is. One of my main love languages is physical touch so you would think hugging would be right up my alley, right? There are a lot of unanswered questions in regard to hugging. How tight should I hug? Which side should I put my face to? What if we bonk noses? What if one party is aiming for a side hug and the other a regular hug and it ends up with the first party reaching awkwardly across to the other person's shoulder? What if the other person does one of those air kiss things?
I married into a hugging family. My husband's cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, siblings, and grandparents all hug to say hello and goodbye. To be honest I was startled at first. They all hugged me when they met me! Then they hugged me again when we left! In the past 6 1/2 years of marriage I have adjusted to all this hugging, but I still have to remind myself about it when we approach the gathering. Ok, we're going to walk in and there will be hugs. Lots of them. Ready? Go! I forget about the goodbye hugs half the time and just walk out with a wave and say, "see you guys later!" only to remember as I'm driving away, oops, didn't hug anyone.
I kinda like it now, actually. I have grown slightly more comfortable with hugging in general but you can bet I won't be the first to offer one. So if you've ever expected a hug from me and didn't get one, don't take it personally! I probably just didn't even think about it.
Are you a hugger or a non hugger?
I married into a hugging family. My husband's cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, siblings, and grandparents all hug to say hello and goodbye. To be honest I was startled at first. They all hugged me when they met me! Then they hugged me again when we left! In the past 6 1/2 years of marriage I have adjusted to all this hugging, but I still have to remind myself about it when we approach the gathering. Ok, we're going to walk in and there will be hugs. Lots of them. Ready? Go! I forget about the goodbye hugs half the time and just walk out with a wave and say, "see you guys later!" only to remember as I'm driving away, oops, didn't hug anyone.
I kinda like it now, actually. I have grown slightly more comfortable with hugging in general but you can bet I won't be the first to offer one. So if you've ever expected a hug from me and didn't get one, don't take it personally! I probably just didn't even think about it.
Are you a hugger or a non hugger?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
tongue
My baby has discovered her tongue. It's the cutest thing. She sticks it out all day, either with her lips closed around it or open. She also grabs it. I just love her so much!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Doing fine
K, so I haven't written in FOREVER, but that's only cuz of the holidays and whatnot. I am back.
Are you wondering how I'm doing in my weight loss? I've lost 27lbs! Yep, thank you plant based, whole foods diet. I have plateaued there so I ramped it up by adding exercise as of two weeks ago. I can feel my body getting stronger and it's exciting. I'm hooked. Tonight I went to the dancing cardio class at the gym and it was sooooo fun. Plus I'm doing a wellness challenge and I have to exercise 45min every day to get my full points.
Are you wondering how I'm doing in my weight loss? I've lost 27lbs! Yep, thank you plant based, whole foods diet. I have plateaued there so I ramped it up by adding exercise as of two weeks ago. I can feel my body getting stronger and it's exciting. I'm hooked. Tonight I went to the dancing cardio class at the gym and it was sooooo fun. Plus I'm doing a wellness challenge and I have to exercise 45min every day to get my full points.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
My new love
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Not for me
So a friend recently posted about why she is choosing to homeschool and I wanted to respond here, just to get my thoughts out. It was a great post with good points brought up as to why homeschooling could be better for some people. First let it be said that I seriously considered doing it. I tried to do my own preschool for Sweetcakes last year but I did not do well at all. At first I was excited about the idea and looked up projects, crafts, etc. I printed stuff with great visions of my own little school dancing in my head.
But reality hit. It was just not for me. I had no motivation to keep it up. I still did crafts and teaching moments with my kids, don't get me wrong, but to follow some kind of curriculum? Nah. Now she is in a real preschool that is just amazing with the most fabulous teacher. I can see that there's no way I could provide that kind of environment and opportunity for her. My friend brought up the point that parents are excited to see summer break come to an end, complain that vacations are too long etc and are looking forward to leaving their child in someone else's care for 8 hours a day. While that is a valid point, I feel that if a school/teacher is well researched, observed, and chosen, the 8 hours a day spent away from the parent is more productive/educational/stimulating than the 8 hours with a parent who doesn't have the same capabilities.
That's all really. If it ever came down to a necessity that my child(ren) needed to be homeschooled, I would definitely do it for them. I don't have concerns with socialization, my abilities to impart knowledge, etc. I did enough research on the subject to know that homeschooled kids are provided with many opportunities for socialization and other resources. It's just not for me. And someday if you find me doing it, feel free to remind me about this post and I'll gladly eat my words!
But reality hit. It was just not for me. I had no motivation to keep it up. I still did crafts and teaching moments with my kids, don't get me wrong, but to follow some kind of curriculum? Nah. Now she is in a real preschool that is just amazing with the most fabulous teacher. I can see that there's no way I could provide that kind of environment and opportunity for her. My friend brought up the point that parents are excited to see summer break come to an end, complain that vacations are too long etc and are looking forward to leaving their child in someone else's care for 8 hours a day. While that is a valid point, I feel that if a school/teacher is well researched, observed, and chosen, the 8 hours a day spent away from the parent is more productive/educational/stimulating than the 8 hours with a parent who doesn't have the same capabilities.
That's all really. If it ever came down to a necessity that my child(ren) needed to be homeschooled, I would definitely do it for them. I don't have concerns with socialization, my abilities to impart knowledge, etc. I did enough research on the subject to know that homeschooled kids are provided with many opportunities for socialization and other resources. It's just not for me. And someday if you find me doing it, feel free to remind me about this post and I'll gladly eat my words!
I love shrinking
Progress so far: Down a total of 9-10lbs, lost 3 inches around my belly and 1 inch around my hips. I am wearing the next size down in jeans.
Now that I finally am seeing success in the weight loss department I am reminded how exciting it is to see your body shrink. I am in week 4 of the six week plan which is vegetables (1lb raw, 1lb cooked per day), fruit (unlimited), whole grains (limited), legumes, nuts and seeds. It was hard-ish until I got past the first two weeks. It always takes 2 weeks to get over the sugar cravings. Now I have no desire whatsoever for junk food. I do have occasional fleeting moments of longing when I am in close proximity to junk (like if I'm giving m&ms to the potty-trainee or cutting the crust off a grilled cheese sandwich for the kiddos) but they are short and my desire to eat healthy is way stronger. I LOVE it.
It's been interesting, eating mostly vegetables and fruit all day. For one thing, I am drinking a ton more water. I drink about a gallon a day now to keep up my milk supply. I think it's because my body used to send hunger signals when the thirst signals weren't being acknowledged so it would at least get SOME moisture from the food. I am eating so many less calories now that my body needs real water instead of gleaning moisture from other sources. I have recognized the difference between real hunger and boredom snacking urges. It helps if I eat then get out of the kitchen. If I'm hanging around the kitchen I just feel like eating when I'm not truly hungry.
Another thing I've noticed and enjoyed is the lack of guilt that normally accompanies eating. A typical day of eating used to involve LOTS of guilt over eating too much sugar, too much food in general, not eating enough vegetables, etc. Now I blissfully sail through each day knowing that I'm putting awesome nutrition into my body and I feel guilt free. Such a relief!
Are you wondering what I eat each day? Well I'll tell ya.
Breakfast: a bowl of steel-cut oats with a packet of stevia, generous sprinkling of cinnamon, bit of coconut milk, half a banana, and a Tb of ground flaxseed. Delicious!
Morning snack: some fruit. An apple, box of raisins, some grapes, tc.
Lunch: a salad and fruit.
Afternoon snack: carrots with hummus or sugar snap peas. Sometimes I'll eat leftover cooked veggies from the night before.
Dinner: beans of some sort or a plate full of veggies. A salad, broccoli, peas, raw red pepper, beets, etc.
Bedtime snack: snap peas or fruit or raisins.
And I'm totally not hungry. Can you believe it? I LOVE this plan and I feel so free. I love not having to purchase, prepare, cook, and eat meat. I already never use red meat (it just grosses me out) but now I don't have to worry about chicken and turkey, ham, etc. I don't miss it at all. Hubs is ok with this type of eating, and I usually serve some yummy thing for him and the kids along with all the veggies.
Speaking of the kids, now that we have such an abundance of fruit and veggies available and they always see me eating them, they are more likely to choose those kinds of snacks themselves. Snacks are carrot sticks, apple slices, raisins, celery and pb, grapes, watermelon, etc. Yes they still eat processed food but they are eating a lot more natural stuff. And get this: they never ask for candy anymore! They used to always ask for a piece at least once a day. It was getting on my nerves but now we don't worry about it anymore. I gave m&ms to Honeybuns here and there when she used the toilet but she quit asking so I stopped offering. The other night I made waffles per Sweetcakes' request. I made myself a salad and had bowls of broccoli and peas on the table for when I emptied my plate of the salad. The kids each took a few bites of waffle then asked for broccoli and peas and gobbled them up! I was astonished but pleased. :-)
Here's to a heart healthy future for our family!
Now that I finally am seeing success in the weight loss department I am reminded how exciting it is to see your body shrink. I am in week 4 of the six week plan which is vegetables (1lb raw, 1lb cooked per day), fruit (unlimited), whole grains (limited), legumes, nuts and seeds. It was hard-ish until I got past the first two weeks. It always takes 2 weeks to get over the sugar cravings. Now I have no desire whatsoever for junk food. I do have occasional fleeting moments of longing when I am in close proximity to junk (like if I'm giving m&ms to the potty-trainee or cutting the crust off a grilled cheese sandwich for the kiddos) but they are short and my desire to eat healthy is way stronger. I LOVE it.
It's been interesting, eating mostly vegetables and fruit all day. For one thing, I am drinking a ton more water. I drink about a gallon a day now to keep up my milk supply. I think it's because my body used to send hunger signals when the thirst signals weren't being acknowledged so it would at least get SOME moisture from the food. I am eating so many less calories now that my body needs real water instead of gleaning moisture from other sources. I have recognized the difference between real hunger and boredom snacking urges. It helps if I eat then get out of the kitchen. If I'm hanging around the kitchen I just feel like eating when I'm not truly hungry.
Another thing I've noticed and enjoyed is the lack of guilt that normally accompanies eating. A typical day of eating used to involve LOTS of guilt over eating too much sugar, too much food in general, not eating enough vegetables, etc. Now I blissfully sail through each day knowing that I'm putting awesome nutrition into my body and I feel guilt free. Such a relief!
Are you wondering what I eat each day? Well I'll tell ya.
Breakfast: a bowl of steel-cut oats with a packet of stevia, generous sprinkling of cinnamon, bit of coconut milk, half a banana, and a Tb of ground flaxseed. Delicious!
Morning snack: some fruit. An apple, box of raisins, some grapes, tc.
Lunch: a salad and fruit.
Afternoon snack: carrots with hummus or sugar snap peas. Sometimes I'll eat leftover cooked veggies from the night before.
Dinner: beans of some sort or a plate full of veggies. A salad, broccoli, peas, raw red pepper, beets, etc.
Bedtime snack: snap peas or fruit or raisins.
And I'm totally not hungry. Can you believe it? I LOVE this plan and I feel so free. I love not having to purchase, prepare, cook, and eat meat. I already never use red meat (it just grosses me out) but now I don't have to worry about chicken and turkey, ham, etc. I don't miss it at all. Hubs is ok with this type of eating, and I usually serve some yummy thing for him and the kids along with all the veggies.
Speaking of the kids, now that we have such an abundance of fruit and veggies available and they always see me eating them, they are more likely to choose those kinds of snacks themselves. Snacks are carrot sticks, apple slices, raisins, celery and pb, grapes, watermelon, etc. Yes they still eat processed food but they are eating a lot more natural stuff. And get this: they never ask for candy anymore! They used to always ask for a piece at least once a day. It was getting on my nerves but now we don't worry about it anymore. I gave m&ms to Honeybuns here and there when she used the toilet but she quit asking so I stopped offering. The other night I made waffles per Sweetcakes' request. I made myself a salad and had bowls of broccoli and peas on the table for when I emptied my plate of the salad. The kids each took a few bites of waffle then asked for broccoli and peas and gobbled them up! I was astonished but pleased. :-)
Here's to a heart healthy future for our family!
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