WHEW! Over halfway done! Eating will commence Wednesday night at dinner - my fast will be broken at church. Scott is leading a new 8 week Bible Study and we always have dinner before. Wednesday night I believe dinner will be homemade chicken pot pie! YAY! Bring it! Although, I know I will need to pace myself and only eat a small portion since my body isn't used to solid food/protein/carbs/anything hot. *lol* But I'm SO excited! :)
I don't have any pictures from yesterday or today. I've been super lazy to be honest, despite the fact that I do have a lot of energy and feel pretty good (aside from being hungry ;) ). Yesterday was pretty much the worst day ever - mentally. We didn't really have time to make breakfast yesterday and Sunday morning is always a crazy rush to get the three of us ready. So, for breakfast I had some leftover juice from the morning before and headed out the door with Bryan. We get to church and there are tables set up in the lobby and fellowship hall for the 10am brunch that the church is having and we HAVE to stay for the 11am service to make an announcement. *uuugggghhh* It was pretty tough standing and chatting with people as they ate and as everyone else around me ate - but I did it, without too much agony. After church we headed to the apartment to pick up some food for Mr. Bryan, an extra change of clothes for him, and some "lunch & dinner" for me (& Scott if he chose to partake). So, feeling like I was in serious need of some veg, I juiced up a TON of spinach, carrot, & apple - with like a 1/2 cup of watermelon. It filled up my plastic jug about halfway with some green/brown nastiness. (I actually hadn't tasted of it yet.) Then we're on our merry way to the Grandparents' house to spend the day. We walk in the door and I am engulfed in the sinfully delicious aroma of fried chicken. BBBAAAHHH!!! I looked in the kitchen and there it was, piled high on a platter in all its greasy glory...surrounded by all of its favorite sidekicks: mac n' cheese, mashed potatoes, and fluffy white biscuits. I was so hungry I could have smacked someone. I fled the scene as quick as possible trying to get out my nose's reach. I ran to the garage to put my disgusting juice in the fridge - opened the door there only to be greeted by my old friends 2% milk and Dr. Pepper (I would have drank them both simultaneously at that point). I then avoided the kitchen by way of the formal dining room and then into the tv room. I headed straight to the couch where I wanted to bury myself so far that I couldn't see where I was, in hopes that I would forget the chicken in the next room that was calling my name. Anyway, I took about a 2 hour nap while everyone else ate. After my nap I went into the kitchen where everything had been cleared *thankfully* and the chicken smell had cleared. :) However, it's always tough at the in-laws' because you can guarantee that there is ALWAYS some sort of chocolate, dessert, or coke. We stayed there until church that night at 6pm and I amazingly avoided ALL of the above!!! One million points: ME.
Today's been easier, without all of the temptation around...but I am certainly still hungry. PRAISE GOD that I am DONE on Wednesday at dinnertime! WOOOHOO! Today I've only eaten fruit though...I just can't bring myself to drink any more vegetables. BLECH!! I would much rather EAT veggies than drink them...I will GLADLY eat my vegetables now!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
HALFWAY!!!!!!!
WOOT WOOT!!! :) I am SO happy to remind everyone that we are HALFWAY through this 10 day juice fast! Today, I unfortunately don't have any pictures...I guess I've been kind of lazy today. Actually, other than breakfast that Scott juiced for me in a hurry so I could take it to work with me, I haven't juiced anything today. Yep. I had another small bowl of fruit at work today. I came home pretty hungry but just wasn't feeling up to juicing. I don't feel bad physically, I'm just tired of juicing...or I needed a break.
Breakfast was pretty good - but a nasty radioactive green/yellow color: Kiwis, Mango, Blueberries, and Apples. After work I decided to go by Kroger and stock up a bit on some things that I was running out of. I also, taking some advice from Shea, decided to buy a half gallon of Chocolate Almond Milk. It's still super-low calorie and made from almost all natural ingredients and it provided some AMAZING relief from the mundane juice flavor/texture. I also picked up a 64oz jug of V8...never thought I'd say that. However, after drinking some of my cucumber or beet concoctions, it was a pleasant and much welcomed tomato-y taste. :)
That's all I've had today though...I know I should be consuming more but I'm just tired of drinking stuff. Scott just made me some hot raspberry tea, but it's a welcome change too. Going to Kroger twice today was kind of tough, and for those of you non-Owensborinians(ites?) Kroger is right next to Five Guys...ugggghhhh. The smell KILLS me. I want a cheeseburger so bad. We even watched "Food Inc." yesterday and I STILL want a cheeseburger. haha
Well, time to watch some "Guy vs. Rachel"....not sure why I'm doing this to myself. They're doing a fried chicken cook-off. Bbbaaaaahhhh!!
Goal for tomorrow - more juice! Less whining.
Breakfast was pretty good - but a nasty radioactive green/yellow color: Kiwis, Mango, Blueberries, and Apples. After work I decided to go by Kroger and stock up a bit on some things that I was running out of. I also, taking some advice from Shea, decided to buy a half gallon of Chocolate Almond Milk. It's still super-low calorie and made from almost all natural ingredients and it provided some AMAZING relief from the mundane juice flavor/texture. I also picked up a 64oz jug of V8...never thought I'd say that. However, after drinking some of my cucumber or beet concoctions, it was a pleasant and much welcomed tomato-y taste. :)
That's all I've had today though...I know I should be consuming more but I'm just tired of drinking stuff. Scott just made me some hot raspberry tea, but it's a welcome change too. Going to Kroger twice today was kind of tough, and for those of you non-Owensborinians(ites?) Kroger is right next to Five Guys...ugggghhhh. The smell KILLS me. I want a cheeseburger so bad. We even watched "Food Inc." yesterday and I STILL want a cheeseburger. haha
Well, time to watch some "Guy vs. Rachel"....not sure why I'm doing this to myself. They're doing a fried chicken cook-off. Bbbaaaaahhhh!!
Goal for tomorrow - more juice! Less whining.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Day 4
It's the end of day 4. It's 8:40pm and the day has been pretty good overall. My throat is hurting pretty bad today...I read on another blog that a sore throat is one of the symptoms of detox. My energy was pretty good today though. I'm staying kind of hungry, after a chat w/ my brother we figured that I'm probably not juicing enough. Tomorrow I'll juice more, but I'm getting pretty tired of the frothiness of the juice and the taste of veggies in juice form *blech*. BUT, I feel good about sticking to it and about actually consuming said veggie juice, I consider that quite an accomplishment. I would kill for a coke right about now...and a brownie with vanilla ice cream...or a Chik-fil-A sandwich....................
I always daydream about food when I'm typing. Anyway, here's what the day looked like:
For breakfast, Scott made us a yummy smoothie with bananas, strawberries, and a little apple juice to thin it out. Yum! What an amazing husband I have...he drinks breakfast and dinner with me. :) We went to a student gathering at KWC tonight where they always provide dinner and dessert, he even passed on an AMAZING smelling meal with me! :) A good guy.
Lunch was not so amazing. An apple, carrots, spinach, and cucumber. If you don't like cucumbers to begin with, don't juice with them! See all that bright green froth on top of my juice - pulpy, cucumber flavored froth. SO GROSS. I tried a few gulps then had to spoon it off the top. I'm getting to where I can't really stomach my drinks with veggies in them...they get to me quickly.
SO, although I wasn't a fan of the cucumber-y, spinach-y lunch...guess who was!
Bryan LOVED it! So funny! I put a little bit of the froth on the tip of my finger for him to taste and he immediately started reaching, mouth wide open. Adorable. What a great role model for his Mommy. He motivated me to drink a bit more of it. (What you don't see is my apple-juice chaser on the coffee table...it's my go-to chaser of choice. haha)
Well, I'm tired...and hungry...tomorrow is halfway! WOOHOO! :)
I always daydream about food when I'm typing. Anyway, here's what the day looked like:
Lunch was not so amazing. An apple, carrots, spinach, and cucumber. If you don't like cucumbers to begin with, don't juice with them! See all that bright green froth on top of my juice - pulpy, cucumber flavored froth. SO GROSS. I tried a few gulps then had to spoon it off the top. I'm getting to where I can't really stomach my drinks with veggies in them...they get to me quickly.
Well, I'm tired...and hungry...tomorrow is halfway! WOOHOO! :)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Day 3 - Yams & Pineapple, hooray!
It's Day 3 of my 10 day juice fast. I'm still feelin' pretty okay aside from the occasional fast food/snacky craving. I had to go to Kroger's for work today...so that was kind of annoying, but as I walked out the door with my bags in hand I was hit square in the nostrils with the sinful aroma of Five Guys right next door. THEN, I get back to work and hop out of the car only to be greeted by the most amazing pizza smell. Ugh. :( I would love a giant slice of pizza...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............................
Okay, refocus. So breakfast this morning was yummy. Two oranges, 1 apple, 1 lime, and a handful of red & white grapes. I have to confess, at work today I had some fruit - however, it was completely etiquette based! The lady I work for couldn't stand to have me sit there and watch her eat her soup and fruit, so I told her it would be okay if I had a little fruit with her. I didn't consider this cheating...I only had fresh fruit...just not in juice form. I have resisted every other temptation so I'm pretty proud (and surprised by) of myself so far.
I decided to be a little adventurous for lunch. Two tomatoes, 1/2 a jalapeño, a handful of spinach, some garlic salt, and a few drops of Tobasco. Okay for the first few drinks, but it got old after a while and desperately needed something to cover up the taste afterwards.
So, in order to cover up the tomato/garlic-y taste I took a leftover glass of the berry blend I made for breakfast yesterday morning, threw it in a saucepan and heated it up. It made for quite a nice change. It was just good to eat/drink something hot. A hot berry soup...not bad, just too tart to finish it all. It did the trick though...I think it could have been much better if it had had some pineapple or apple in it to cut some of the tartness.
I wasn't too excited about dinner to be honest. The juicing is kind of a task, but figuring out what to juice...hoping to get the right flavor combo so my dinner won't suck...that's kind of tough. I wasn't feeling very excited about having more juiced veggies either, but I've been seeing this recipe online and it intrigued me, so Scott juiced it up for me. :)
DELICIOUS! (As far as juiced fruits & veggies go) It was a much needed break after like 3 green drinks that I've had the past couple of days. The pineapple and yam make a pretty palatable flavor combo and the yam give the juice a nice thick but not too thick consistency, PLUS I noticed it was virtually pulp free which was nice...now, I just need to figure out a way to get rid of that stupid froth that accumulates on top...I guess I could spoon it off...but I'd feel like I was throwing away the healthy part...because the juice itself isn't....healthy....enough???? Yep. I think I just won that argument with myself.
Okay, refocus. So breakfast this morning was yummy. Two oranges, 1 apple, 1 lime, and a handful of red & white grapes. I have to confess, at work today I had some fruit - however, it was completely etiquette based! The lady I work for couldn't stand to have me sit there and watch her eat her soup and fruit, so I told her it would be okay if I had a little fruit with her. I didn't consider this cheating...I only had fresh fruit...just not in juice form. I have resisted every other temptation so I'm pretty proud (and surprised by) of myself so far.I decided to be a little adventurous for lunch. Two tomatoes, 1/2 a jalapeño, a handful of spinach, some garlic salt, and a few drops of Tobasco. Okay for the first few drinks, but it got old after a while and desperately needed something to cover up the taste afterwards.
So, in order to cover up the tomato/garlic-y taste I took a leftover glass of the berry blend I made for breakfast yesterday morning, threw it in a saucepan and heated it up. It made for quite a nice change. It was just good to eat/drink something hot. A hot berry soup...not bad, just too tart to finish it all. It did the trick though...I think it could have been much better if it had had some pineapple or apple in it to cut some of the tartness.
As I ate my warm berry soup, this little guy was happy as a clam sitting on the floor playing, talking to himself, and bouncing up and down to the music in the background. Was hoping to catch a glimpse of his two little teeth in the pic, but he was too quick. :)
I wasn't too excited about dinner to be honest. The juicing is kind of a task, but figuring out what to juice...hoping to get the right flavor combo so my dinner won't suck...that's kind of tough. I wasn't feeling very excited about having more juiced veggies either, but I've been seeing this recipe online and it intrigued me, so Scott juiced it up for me. :)
4 oranges
1 pineapple
1 yam
DELICIOUS! (As far as juiced fruits & veggies go) It was a much needed break after like 3 green drinks that I've had the past couple of days. The pineapple and yam make a pretty palatable flavor combo and the yam give the juice a nice thick but not too thick consistency, PLUS I noticed it was virtually pulp free which was nice...now, I just need to figure out a way to get rid of that stupid froth that accumulates on top...I guess I could spoon it off...but I'd feel like I was throwing away the healthy part...because the juice itself isn't....healthy....enough???? Yep. I think I just won that argument with myself.
It's about 8:30pm now and I would still kill for a Five Guys little cheeseburger, Taco Bell soft taco with no lettuce and mild sauce, or even the stupid Cheez-its that are still haunting me from the pantry. I'm hungry for food that is greasy and tastes good. I am hungry...as I'm sitting here typing this my stomach is growling, but I don't want to drink anything else today. I want those freakin' Cheez-its. *lol* Oh well. Tomorrow is Day 4 and I am anticipating a little discomfort...mentally and physically...I feel like I'm kind of sitting here waiting for the detox to kick in and wreak its havoc. We'll see...for now I'm going to attempt to distract myself with either some Hulu or Netflix.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Day 2
Well, day two is coming to a close. It's honestly been fine except for desperately wanting to pull something from my pantry to eat. Here's what breakfast looked like this morning:
A Berry Blend for clear skin! Loaded with antioxidants. Pretty yummy...but it was blended and not juiced. This method led to a thick, more smoothie consistency and lots of seeds to chew on. It took me most of the morning to finish it.
Lunch today was tolerable but still not my favorite. Today's lunch recipe was: 1 carrot, 1 apple, 1 orange, 1 yam, a hand full of spinach, and a tiny bit of ginger root. I think I'm having a tough time with the texture of the yams. We'll see, maybe it'll grow on me.
Dinner: Mango, Watermelon, Kiwi, Grapes, Lemon, Cucumber, & Carrots
A full day of juice...doing ok, but hungry. It helped a LOAD talking with my brother this evening. There were several times where even the Cheez-its in the pantry just kept calling my name...but I resisted. We'll see how tomorrow goes!
A Berry Blend for clear skin! Loaded with antioxidants. Pretty yummy...but it was blended and not juiced. This method led to a thick, more smoothie consistency and lots of seeds to chew on. It took me most of the morning to finish it.
Lunch today was tolerable but still not my favorite. Today's lunch recipe was: 1 carrot, 1 apple, 1 orange, 1 yam, a hand full of spinach, and a tiny bit of ginger root. I think I'm having a tough time with the texture of the yams. We'll see, maybe it'll grow on me.
Dinner: Mango, Watermelon, Kiwi, Grapes, Lemon, Cucumber, & Carrots
A full day of juice...doing ok, but hungry. It helped a LOAD talking with my brother this evening. There were several times where even the Cheez-its in the pantry just kept calling my name...but I resisted. We'll see how tomorrow goes!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
JUST SAY NO TO BEETS!
DAY 1.
Well, the garbage disposal was fixed long enough for me to make our "dinner" last night. So, our dinner consisted of:
1 yam
1 carrot
2 tomatoes
1 bunch spinach
2 pears
and...
1/2 a beet...
What in the world possessed me to put that beet in there (or even buy the beets to begin with)...I have no idea. I KNEW better! I knew that beets taste like dirt, so I don't know what took over my brain for those moments that led to my "beet amnesia" but it totally ruined any chance of my veggie dinner being palatable. Here's what it looked like:
Pretty colors...fun, vibrant, excited about what I eat being healthy and colorful...as it should be...
Looks are deceiving. Here's me not really being excited, but grossed out rather, by the dirt -in deceitful pretty juice form- that I'm about to choke down.
It was terrible. However, nose plugged and apple juice chaser in the left hand I managed to choke down half of it. Well, I certainly learned my lesson. Last night was a rough start to this 10 day fast, but now I figure if I can get down just about anything - as long as it doesn't have a beet in it. The bag of beets is now at the top of my trash can. Good riddance!
Last night was pretty difficult, more mentally than anything. You really take notice of how much food is on your mind when you can't eat it. A pretty big eye-opener was that every thought of food that I had, was fried, covered in grease, or full of sugar. Taco Bell was calling our names last night after we'd had our "dinner." Scott and I used to make late-night Taco Bell runs when we were in college (undergrad and grad school)...it's kind of been our thing since we started dating. *lol* Mmmmm..Taco Bell. The fact that it's 9am and I am "mmmmming" at the thought of Taco Bell...yikes. Wake-up call! No wonder people think I'm pregnant. Now, honestly, I'm really not THAT unhealthy of an eater. I drink cokes (but not excessively, usually no more than one a day recently), I do love chocolate...usually in cake, brownie, or ice cream form - but it's not like I stuff my face with these things. I probably have a bigger serving than I should when I do have them. Here's my problem(s) - I don't eat enough fruits, veggies, & whole grains and I don't exercise enough. Isn't that about 75% of America's problem? Ugh. I loved living in Poland because I was healthy. Walked a million miles a day (more like 5 or so), drank lots of water & fewer cokes, and just ate healthier. Well, one thing was that we ate our bigger meal at lunchtime and a smaller something at dinnertime. Anyway, I miss that lifestyle...I miss that body. I am hoping this fast will increase my awareness of how much I need these healthier foods and smaller portions of everything else. Though I do think it's ok to indulge in the things that we love, but in moderation. Like any good gift that God gives, if we take advantage of it, let it become our idol, it can ruin us. If I let the food that I eat or the immediate self-gratification I get from eating it take over, it will undoubtedly lead to a life dependent on pills, laziness, and shorter life which will deprive my family of time with me. I want to be around as long and be as active as I can for my children, husband, family...I know I can't determine my life span, but I can take care of the body that God has given to me and do my part to keep myself around longer.
Anyway, guess I should go do something productive. Maybe work out a bit. Just finished a much more delectable berry medley breakfast (good for clear skin & antioxidants). Chewing a bit more than drinking...b/c I blended it and berries are full of seeds...so thick & full of texture, but tasty and WAY more tolerable than the dreaded beet juice. Never again.
Well, the garbage disposal was fixed long enough for me to make our "dinner" last night. So, our dinner consisted of:
1 yam
1 carrot
2 tomatoes
1 bunch spinach
2 pears
and...
1/2 a beet...
What in the world possessed me to put that beet in there (or even buy the beets to begin with)...I have no idea. I KNEW better! I knew that beets taste like dirt, so I don't know what took over my brain for those moments that led to my "beet amnesia" but it totally ruined any chance of my veggie dinner being palatable. Here's what it looked like:
Looks are deceiving. Here's me not really being excited, but grossed out rather, by the dirt -in deceitful pretty juice form- that I'm about to choke down.
It was terrible. However, nose plugged and apple juice chaser in the left hand I managed to choke down half of it. Well, I certainly learned my lesson. Last night was a rough start to this 10 day fast, but now I figure if I can get down just about anything - as long as it doesn't have a beet in it. The bag of beets is now at the top of my trash can. Good riddance!
Last night was pretty difficult, more mentally than anything. You really take notice of how much food is on your mind when you can't eat it. A pretty big eye-opener was that every thought of food that I had, was fried, covered in grease, or full of sugar. Taco Bell was calling our names last night after we'd had our "dinner." Scott and I used to make late-night Taco Bell runs when we were in college (undergrad and grad school)...it's kind of been our thing since we started dating. *lol* Mmmmm..Taco Bell. The fact that it's 9am and I am "mmmmming" at the thought of Taco Bell...yikes. Wake-up call! No wonder people think I'm pregnant. Now, honestly, I'm really not THAT unhealthy of an eater. I drink cokes (but not excessively, usually no more than one a day recently), I do love chocolate...usually in cake, brownie, or ice cream form - but it's not like I stuff my face with these things. I probably have a bigger serving than I should when I do have them. Here's my problem(s) - I don't eat enough fruits, veggies, & whole grains and I don't exercise enough. Isn't that about 75% of America's problem? Ugh. I loved living in Poland because I was healthy. Walked a million miles a day (more like 5 or so), drank lots of water & fewer cokes, and just ate healthier. Well, one thing was that we ate our bigger meal at lunchtime and a smaller something at dinnertime. Anyway, I miss that lifestyle...I miss that body. I am hoping this fast will increase my awareness of how much I need these healthier foods and smaller portions of everything else. Though I do think it's ok to indulge in the things that we love, but in moderation. Like any good gift that God gives, if we take advantage of it, let it become our idol, it can ruin us. If I let the food that I eat or the immediate self-gratification I get from eating it take over, it will undoubtedly lead to a life dependent on pills, laziness, and shorter life which will deprive my family of time with me. I want to be around as long and be as active as I can for my children, husband, family...I know I can't determine my life span, but I can take care of the body that God has given to me and do my part to keep myself around longer.
Anyway, guess I should go do something productive. Maybe work out a bit. Just finished a much more delectable berry medley breakfast (good for clear skin & antioxidants). Chewing a bit more than drinking...b/c I blended it and berries are full of seeds...so thick & full of texture, but tasty and WAY more tolerable than the dreaded beet juice. Never again.
Said Juicing Hath Commenced...
Day 1. Well, I sort of count today...more this evening. The lady I worked for took me out to eat lunch at the Olive Garden, but...I did keep my lunch at a veggie soup, salad, and one breadstick. So, that was at noon...it's 6:52pm now and I'm starving. I just went to the good 'ole Kroger and bought a boat load of fresh fruits and veggies - yams included, as my friend Kat had suggested. So...I came home, fruit and veg in hand to be greeted by a backed-up garbage disposal so a sink that won't work (bathroom or kitchen). Luckily, we have a wonderful maintenance crew here at KWC so the on-call worker hopped on over after we so rudely interrupted his family time :(, but he's in here now graciously trying his best to clean up the mess.
I'm a little nervous about what my dinner might look like...because it needs to be mostly veggies...and I HATE veggies. :( However, I have accountability with my bro who is doing this with me and my amazing husband has decided that he is going to do juice breakfasts and dinners with me. :)
OH!! SUCCESS! Disposal is cleared...let's get this show on the road! Stay tuned....
I'm a little nervous about what my dinner might look like...because it needs to be mostly veggies...and I HATE veggies. :( However, I have accountability with my bro who is doing this with me and my amazing husband has decided that he is going to do juice breakfasts and dinners with me. :)
OH!! SUCCESS! Disposal is cleared...let's get this show on the road! Stay tuned....
Friday, January 20, 2012
And she juiced...
Well friends, I have decided that a "Mommy Reboot" is WAY overdue. With the help of some random strangers who have inspired me to pay some serious attention to my weight, I have decided to take action. For the last time...I ALREADY "know what [I'm] having:", because I HAD him 6 MONTHS AGO. ;) I recently watched the documentary, "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead" by Joe Cross and he also inspired me to do a 10 day juice fast. SO, THIS MONDAY said juice fast will commence. I am fasting along with my big brother. I have talked him into doing this with me for accountability and bonding. haha
SO, I have been collecting recipes, fruit, and veggies to give a few a try so I can start off knowing at least what I love, like, and what I can stomach if I hold my nose. The juice is supposed to be 80/20 (veggies/fruit)....eeeeeekkk...I AM NOT a veggie girl. This could be brutal. I'll do my best.
Anyway, I tried out my first recipe today, thanks to my dear friend Katrina. She did the fast for 5 days and put some pretty good recipes on her blog. So, here is my first attempt at juicing: Apple Pie Juice
YUMMMM-O! Definitely didn't taste the carrot at all, the cinnamon & nutmeg made it SUPER yummy. One thing I'm going to have to try and get over with the whole juicing thing, is the big pile 'o froth that accumulates on the top. Well, I drank the whole glass. Here's to a start.
SO, I have been collecting recipes, fruit, and veggies to give a few a try so I can start off knowing at least what I love, like, and what I can stomach if I hold my nose. The juice is supposed to be 80/20 (veggies/fruit)....eeeeeekkk...I AM NOT a veggie girl. This could be brutal. I'll do my best.
Anyway, I tried out my first recipe today, thanks to my dear friend Katrina. She did the fast for 5 days and put some pretty good recipes on her blog. So, here is my first attempt at juicing: Apple Pie Juice
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Christmas 2011
Life has changed dramatically since November 2010, as you can clearly see. I'm sure this is not what I had envisioned life being like as the big 3-0 is quickly creeping up on me...not so much in a bad way, but different, sometimes stressful, and sometimes frustrating.
Pure JOY entered our world and our lives on July 7, 2011 at 5:04 in the morning in the form of a 9 lb, 21 inch bouncing baby boy (literally, the kid LOVED - and still loves to bounce). He is perfect...and a perfect testament to how much we are loved by our Father - for Him to give us this precious, undeserved gift that is our Bryan. He makes us cry with joy, makes us smile, makes us laugh, and makes us proud. Only occasionally does he make us nervous. :) When we got married, we wondered how much our lives would change - it really didn't...we just got to spend a lot more time together and learned how to live with one another. Parenthood is a game changer. Our lives FEEL different now, older - not so much the wiser - but a little more seasoned. Having another life depend on you 100% puts your priorities in check, forces you to grow up - real fast, makes you a lot less selfish, and drains your bank account - real fast. However, all of these small things seem so minuscule in comparison to the amount of joy I receive when my little babe smiles his "mouth wide open" smile and squeals in delight at whatever silly dance me or Scott choose to entertain him with. My heart melts when he reaches for my face or burrows himself deep into my chest until he falls asleep. What an amazing, indescribable love. How deep the Father's love for me.
So, this little bundle of joy is currently almost 6 months old, sitting up and playing on his own, trying his darndest to crawl, dancing (or bouncing) to music, eating solid foods, sipping from a cup, and developing LOADS of personality by the minute. He's a stocky 22 lb quarterback now too, broad shoulders, strong legs, marshmallow arms. (Just don't tell his grandmother's - they've vowed "no football!") He goes to the Dr. for his 6 month on the 17th - and will soon get another Echocardiogram on his heart to see if the "echo/shadow" has closed up or if it will need closer attention. We're confident this little guy is just fine though. :)
Moving away from Wheaton may have been the most difficult thing we've ever (or I've ever - I'll speak for myself) had to do. Not that I don't love home, being close to relatives and good friends...but Wheaton was a life-changing experience for me, for Scott, and for our marriage. The Lord was VERY intentional about sending us to Wheaton, so it was scary to move away from that solid support system that knew ALL of the ins and outs/good and bad in our lives. However, God called Scott back here, to 'the Boro, and well...here we are - trying to remain faithful and do what we feel is best. It's been a big adjustment, but our saving grace has been our family and friends here. If it wasn't for them, I'd high-tail it back to Wheaton in a heartbeat. A lot of my bitterness is strictly with the State of KY. I currently hate it...LOATHE it...more specifically the KY Board of LPCCs...you have ALL heard about this GIANT, frustrating pain in my rear...so I'll spare you...mostly because it just pisses me off to think about it when I don't absolutely have to.
In other news: Moving in has gone quite well, things are starting to come together at Casa de Newman. It's slowly beginning to feel home-ish. It's in a SUPER convenient spot so praise God for that!
A mommy update: Post-pregnancy SUCKS. My body has aged about 10 years and with 30 coming quickly, I can't afford that! I am kicking my butt into gear. I am 6 months post pregnancy and STILL in maternity clothes because I REFUSE to buy the size that I am scared I would fit into currently. The next person to assume that I am pregnant or ask how far along I am gets a swift kick in their teeth. NEVER....NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER, ASSUME that someone is pregnant and comment on it. We all know what ASSUMING does. I have started a crunch regimen in the morning (about 4 days strong now) to get my abs back to where they should be...currently they're still in Poland, and we know how long it takes things to travel overseas. ;) My goal is to drop at least 30 (preferably 40lbs) by April 3rd. Today is officially Day 1. According to my Wii, I am teetering dangerously close to the top of the "overweight" line. My body feels terrible, not sure if it's due to my weight or due to the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm inheriting my Mom's Fibromyalsia - UGH. Another reason for desperately needing to become more active. SO, here's somewhat of a plan:
At least 30 min of cardio every day
My morning crunch routine
Drinking at least 2 14oz glasses of water a day (baby steps here)
Cutting back my coke intake significantly (maybe 3 or 4 a week...currently, it's daily)
Eating more veggies and less sugar
Blogging about my progress
Unofficially joining Weight Watchers w/ my sibs
Keeping up with my "SparkPeople" account
One of my first steps is to watch the documentary "Fat, Sick, and Almost Dead" (read about it on Pintrest by a girl who did a 60 day veggie/fruit juice cleanse) YIKES, probably won't go that far...but maybe it'll give me some motivation.
Also going to try and start taking more pictures, doing more creative things, enjoying my family (immediate/extended/& in-laws) more, praying more, and playing with the babe as much as possible.
Szczesliwego Nowego Roku everyone!
Pure JOY entered our world and our lives on July 7, 2011 at 5:04 in the morning in the form of a 9 lb, 21 inch bouncing baby boy (literally, the kid LOVED - and still loves to bounce). He is perfect...and a perfect testament to how much we are loved by our Father - for Him to give us this precious, undeserved gift that is our Bryan. He makes us cry with joy, makes us smile, makes us laugh, and makes us proud. Only occasionally does he make us nervous. :) When we got married, we wondered how much our lives would change - it really didn't...we just got to spend a lot more time together and learned how to live with one another. Parenthood is a game changer. Our lives FEEL different now, older - not so much the wiser - but a little more seasoned. Having another life depend on you 100% puts your priorities in check, forces you to grow up - real fast, makes you a lot less selfish, and drains your bank account - real fast. However, all of these small things seem so minuscule in comparison to the amount of joy I receive when my little babe smiles his "mouth wide open" smile and squeals in delight at whatever silly dance me or Scott choose to entertain him with. My heart melts when he reaches for my face or burrows himself deep into my chest until he falls asleep. What an amazing, indescribable love. How deep the Father's love for me.
So, this little bundle of joy is currently almost 6 months old, sitting up and playing on his own, trying his darndest to crawl, dancing (or bouncing) to music, eating solid foods, sipping from a cup, and developing LOADS of personality by the minute. He's a stocky 22 lb quarterback now too, broad shoulders, strong legs, marshmallow arms. (Just don't tell his grandmother's - they've vowed "no football!") He goes to the Dr. for his 6 month on the 17th - and will soon get another Echocardiogram on his heart to see if the "echo/shadow" has closed up or if it will need closer attention. We're confident this little guy is just fine though. :)
Moving away from Wheaton may have been the most difficult thing we've ever (or I've ever - I'll speak for myself) had to do. Not that I don't love home, being close to relatives and good friends...but Wheaton was a life-changing experience for me, for Scott, and for our marriage. The Lord was VERY intentional about sending us to Wheaton, so it was scary to move away from that solid support system that knew ALL of the ins and outs/good and bad in our lives. However, God called Scott back here, to 'the Boro, and well...here we are - trying to remain faithful and do what we feel is best. It's been a big adjustment, but our saving grace has been our family and friends here. If it wasn't for them, I'd high-tail it back to Wheaton in a heartbeat. A lot of my bitterness is strictly with the State of KY. I currently hate it...LOATHE it...more specifically the KY Board of LPCCs...you have ALL heard about this GIANT, frustrating pain in my rear...so I'll spare you...mostly because it just pisses me off to think about it when I don't absolutely have to.
In other news: Moving in has gone quite well, things are starting to come together at Casa de Newman. It's slowly beginning to feel home-ish. It's in a SUPER convenient spot so praise God for that!
A mommy update: Post-pregnancy SUCKS. My body has aged about 10 years and with 30 coming quickly, I can't afford that! I am kicking my butt into gear. I am 6 months post pregnancy and STILL in maternity clothes because I REFUSE to buy the size that I am scared I would fit into currently. The next person to assume that I am pregnant or ask how far along I am gets a swift kick in their teeth. NEVER....NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER, ASSUME that someone is pregnant and comment on it. We all know what ASSUMING does. I have started a crunch regimen in the morning (about 4 days strong now) to get my abs back to where they should be...currently they're still in Poland, and we know how long it takes things to travel overseas. ;) My goal is to drop at least 30 (preferably 40lbs) by April 3rd. Today is officially Day 1. According to my Wii, I am teetering dangerously close to the top of the "overweight" line. My body feels terrible, not sure if it's due to my weight or due to the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm inheriting my Mom's Fibromyalsia - UGH. Another reason for desperately needing to become more active. SO, here's somewhat of a plan:
At least 30 min of cardio every day
My morning crunch routine
Drinking at least 2 14oz glasses of water a day (baby steps here)
Cutting back my coke intake significantly (maybe 3 or 4 a week...currently, it's daily)
Eating more veggies and less sugar
Blogging about my progress
Unofficially joining Weight Watchers w/ my sibs
Keeping up with my "SparkPeople" account
One of my first steps is to watch the documentary "Fat, Sick, and Almost Dead" (read about it on Pintrest by a girl who did a 60 day veggie/fruit juice cleanse) YIKES, probably won't go that far...but maybe it'll give me some motivation.
Also going to try and start taking more pictures, doing more creative things, enjoying my family (immediate/extended/& in-laws) more, praying more, and playing with the babe as much as possible.
Szczesliwego Nowego Roku everyone!
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