Birthday Boy

Saturday morning was Gabriel's birthday.  The kids all got up early and pestered Lissie and they all had breakfast together.  After breakfast, it was time to open family gifts.  I love how the girls are all sitting there waiting so nicely. :o)

Gabriel was in his element, and as I have found to be typical, wanted to play with each gift he opened instead of just opening all his gifts and then playing.

I can't believe how much these two have grown.  It astounds me.

And look at Miss Gracie.  She's getting to be a big girl too!

He's such a plucky, fun little guy.  He couldn't wait for Uncle Paul to arrive (or get up in the morning) so he could whisk him off to his room to play trains.  I do believe his obsession with Thomas is quite common to most little boys. ;o)

Lordy but we have a cute bunch of kiddos! :o)  Mom was in her element because all her grandchildren were in one place and she could visit with them all at once. :o)

Meanwhile, Ellie is feeling much better.  This morning seemed to be fairly touch-and-go for a bit, but now she's fine.  She had a decent lunch (milk, scrambled egg, pasta, tuna and some clementine) and is now napping.  Whew.  Now to hope this bug by-passes the rest of us. :fingers crossed:

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Sparklies:

1.  Ellie feeling better.
2.  Beautiful, glorious sunshine!  With any luck, Ellie will be well enough to go out for our regular walk tomorrow morning.  I've missed it. 
3.  Fred and George keeping me company.
4.  Holly snoring away on the recliner.  Things are calm and peaceful here. Ahhhhh...

No milestones.

Better...I Think

This morning started out dicey.  Ellie began the day with dry heaves and then such hunger she could hardly stand it.  She screamed and screeched when I told her no milk so, against my better judgement, I caved.  Yeah, bad idea that.  :oS  Within ten minutes of guzzling half a sippy of milk, and snarfing a bunch of Crispix, the child was leaning over the side of her high chair, being sick all over again.  I knew better, and blamed myself.  I wouldn't let her having anything other than bland food items and clear liquid for the rest of the day.

She spent the majority of the day in my lap.  I cuddled and snuggled and managed to get some lunch made for us--green monster for me, plain pasta and red jello for her--and cuddled some more.  I was trying to keep her awake so we could get Lil off the bus around 1:30.  She made it to 1:00.  Drat.  I carried her sleeping form to the bus stop and back--she never even stirred--but the minute I put her in her crib, she awoke.  Super.  A one hour nap...when she's sick.

She was better this afternoon, running around and playing and had more pasta and some peas for dinner.  I do believe the crisis has passed and I'm now waiting for the rest of us to come down with it.  Goody! :eye roll: 

Meanwhile, Lil is as hale and hardy as can be with no signs of anything sick related.  I'm wondering if Beanie's illness is what Lil had, only Lil was able to monitor her food intake so she didn't become ill.  I rather hope so because that means Lily has already had it and that would be one less family member to get it. 

Brien had to work late today and still isn't home.  Because I had Beanie on my lap most of the day, very little was done with regards to housekeeping so the kitchen is a wreck.  I want to get that done before he gets in...never mind, he just walked in. 

But, the kitchen still needs to be cleaned and Lil's lunch needs to be packed.  Much excitement for my evening, no?

The Fun is Over

We visited Jessie and her family this weekend to help Gabe-man celebrate his fourth birthday.  I have loads to share on that--later.

Ellie didn't eat all weekend.  She had a fever Thursday (102.3), and then a low-grade one Friday (99.1) and nothing yesterday or today.  But, she didn't eat.

We now know why.  She threw-up all over herself in the car (it was vile and we had to ride with it), and then again at the dinner table.  I'm fairly certain more must be coming.  The baby is ravenous, but throwing-up.  You know how it is.  :sigh:

I'm off to help take care of her.  Wish us luck tonight. :oS

Late to the Party

This horrific looking thing was my lunch this afternoon.  It looks utterly foul and really, when I first saw the recipe I was beyond skeptical.  Who in their right mind would voluntarily drink this?!?

Yes, I'm late to the green smoothie game, but today I did it--and, how happy am I to have done so!

It seems everyone begins the new year with their resolutions fresh in their minds.  They start strong and then, sometime around March, April or May (or, in my case last year, June) they begin forget about them.  But, right now, they're still at the fore of most people's brains, and so, I've been seeing recipes for "green smoothies" and "green monsters" everywhere.  I've even pinned a couple of likely looking recipes, and today, decided it was time.

This bad boy has:
4 cups spinach
1 T peanut butter
1/2 cup Greek style vanilla yogurt (I used Cabot's 2% lowfat)
1 cup vanilla almond milk (never have used the stuff before--it's quite tasty!)
1 sliced banana (I sliced a couple of bananas into baggies last night and froze them), frozen

That's it.  I know I enjoy all those items individually, but, together?  With spinach?!? Even while blending it all together I was still apprehensive.  But, Dani had tried it and told me it was good, and I have a tendency to trust her (who knows why...;oP), so I popped a straw in the glass and took a sip. 

And then, I kept going.  I think I drank non-stop, but I'm not sure.

It was delicious! And, not in one of those convince yourself it tastes good sort of ways.  It really was GOOD. :o)  I'll be having another one of those for lunch tomorrow.  I think it may be time to play around with spinach and the blender a bit more. ;o)

I've been diligently counting my calories and logging my food choices, and this guy packs quite the nutritional punch for the calorie trade-off at 377 for the whole glass.  I'm sure I could slim it down if needed, but why?  It works the way it is and I'm already looking forward to lunch tomorrow. :o)

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Sparklies:

1.  It was sunny and cold-ish during our walk this morning.

2.  Last night's dinner:

Country fried pork.  I served it with spinach and the next item,
3. Sour cream biscuits:

The girls and I shared a piece of pork, I had one biscuit and a serving of spinach, and I was full.  :o)  The biscuits are insanely easy to make.  2 cups of flour, 1 T baking soda, 1 t salt all mixed together.  Add in 1 16 oz carton of sour cream and 5 T melted butter.  Stir together and drop on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  That's it.  They were wonderful!
4.  I'm able to run just a little bit more every day.
5.  Being brave and drinking something that looks so abominable. ;oP
6.  My girls playing together so sweetly this morning. :o)

No milestones.

Oh, and Amy, before I forget, yes, my Baker Creek catalog is here and I've been drooling all over it. :o)

Back to "Normal"

All is back to "normal" around here, whatever that is.  Lil awoke this morning feeling much better (although she still didn't feel up to peanut butter on her toast as she had first thought) so we had a "normal" morning.

I got everyone breakfasted, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the downstairs bathroom (Lil vacuumed it), and got Lil's pack ready for school. 

And yet, in spite of all our industriousness and hard work, we barely made it to the bus stop in time!!  The stop was in sight when the bus came down the street.  Ack!  Thank goodness Ms. Maria loves her kiddos and is patient. :o)

Getting Lil out of the house was good for both of us.  It means she's feeling better--and boy howdy was she upset about missing school yesterday--and can return to school, and it means Ellie and I were able to take our morning walk.  Yay!  I've missed it the past few days.  The elliptical is rather like running on a hamster wheel and there's nothing to look at but the screen.  It's all rather boring, really.  But, outside is wonderful!  There are smells (not all of them nice, but most are interesting) and breezes and nips at your nose and sounds and sights.  Heck, I think the only sense we don't use when taking our morning walks is taste. ;o)  Well, Ellie uses that one as she snarfs down her Cheerios. :oP

All I can seem to think about right now is exercise and eating well.  That's my life at the moment and it permeates everything I do and is trickling into my blog life.  Yes, this is my journal, but surely I do more interesting things than take walks/jogs, eat food and clean my house.  Oh, yes, of course, I cook and grocery shop.  Right. ;o)

I've been wracking my brain trying to come up with something more interesting to write about, and I can't find a blasted thing.  It must be the time of year.  It's January.  It's cold-ish (if you can call 56 degrees cold, mind you) and the long slog to spring is upon us.  My mind is beginning to wander to yard work and planting and planning, but not quite yet.  (Although, I did find this beauty and think I must have it--let the planning commence. ;oP)

At any rate, I'm boring right now.  And, you know what, boring might not be such a bad thing.

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Sparklies:

1.  A Bean burrito:

Such big eyes. :o)

2.  Lily feeling well enough to return to school.  Yay!
3.  Time spent outdoors walking with Beanie.  I didn't run today because my knee started to hurt a bit, and running through the pain just didn't seem like a good idea to me.  I'll use the hamster wheel since it's low-impact on my knees.
4.  The sun came out after a long, grey weekend.  Hooray!  The girls will be playing outside this afternoon!
5.  Georgie Porgy kitteh pie: 

 He was just chillin' last night.  Look at those eyes.  He always has huge pupils like that.  I think it's the 'nip. ;o)

6.  It was still cloudy and overcast this morning:

No milestones.

Better

Bitty is feeling better, although she's still not 100%.  She is in that horrible, awful, I-feel-better-but-still-feel-sort-of-sick phase where she is nothing but grumpy and crabby to everyone. 

Beanie saw her sister lying on the couch and wanted to join her.  She loves to snuggle her big sis.  Lil wanted none of it and began carrying on.  I suggested she move to the black chair. She did, and so did Beanie.  Boy howdy does Ellie want to be like her big sister.  Boy howdy does her big sister get irritated with her.  Ah, families...:eye roll:

I ironed for two hours today (never put off doing something because you don't enjoy it, it'll just pile up until you have to do it and then there will be so much of it you'll be doing it for HOURS) and managed to keep the house fairly clean in spite of having two girlies home.  Of course, we also watched TV all. day. long.  One of the perks of being home sick, right?  ;o)

I realized another perk to being home with the girls.  Last night when it came about that Lil was sick and wouldn't be going to school today, I didn't have to call an administrator and find a sub and write sub plans and somehow get those plans to school, and PRAY my kiddos behaved themselves.  Nope.  I got to stay home and concentrate on my poor sick baby instead of worrying all day.  And, should she need to stay home tomorrow, B and I don't have to have the discussion of "Well, I stayed home today, you have to stay home tomorrow.  I have xyz thing to do and I can't miss it."  It's wonderful to have that freedom and to be where I want and need to be. :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  Ibuprofen.  Thank goodness for fever reducing drugs.  When you top 101 and are chilled, it's a good thing to have.
2.  The girls cleaned up the living room and playroom beautifully. 
3.  Lil feeling better.
4.  An amazing Chinese chicken salad for dinner.  Mm.

No milestones.

Taking Care of Me

This is my new salt scrub.  I found a pin on Pinterest, I was intrigued, I did it. :o)  The jar on the left is about a cup of sea salt, a 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/4 cup almond oil.  The jar on the right is about a cup of sea salt, 1/8 cup olive oil and 3/8 cup almond oil.  I added a few drops of skin safe essential oils to each for smell-good purposes.  I've not tried them yet, but I have high hopes.  My skin is a wreck.  I have a lovely condition called keratosis pilaris and I need to exfoliate regularly to help shed the dead skin cells.  But...I don't.  Of course not.  I'm always in a hurry to be done with my shower because there are ten million other things waiting for me when I'm finished. 

No more.  I'm taking care of ME this year.  I take care of my home, my girls, my hubby, and my furbabies, but so often, I neglect myself.  But, if I'm not in good shape, who's going to take care of them?   

So, once again I'm taking control of my eating and I'm exercising (more on that little revelation in a moment).  I'm flossing more than once a month (not quite daily yet, but I'm working up to it), washing my face every night (thank you Kirkland brand face wipes!), and doing my best to get at minimum 7 hours sleep every night. 

I'm important too!  I just need to remember that.  So, the exercise revelation--I actually like it!  I forgot all about that, and how good it makes me feel.  It's very easy for me to make excuses not to do it, but the thing is, it feels good when I'm done (definitely NOT during some days) and I'm always full of those delicious happy endorphins.  So, I'm making a point of taking the time to actually do it.  It's easy during the week when the weather is nice (i.e. not precipitating or overly windy) because Bean and I just hit the trail.  It's a bit more difficult during the weekends.  It's been cold and gross the past two days so I used the dreaded elliptical (who LIES about distance gone!!).  I MADE the time.  :o)  Knowing me, though, I need to make it a part of a weekend routine if I want it to stick.  I'm working on that.

I'm amending my New Year's goals to be "Take care of me" since that covers many of my original goals.  I need to remember that I'm not just a mom and wife and housekeeper.  I know it's a minor thing, really, but that salt scrub is a symbol for taking charge of my life once more.  :o)

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Weekend Sparklies:

1.  Holy cow this was the most divine dinner:

I made the crust, I made the sauce, I sauteed the mushrooms and caramelized the onions and grated the cheese.  It was unbelievable! :o) I'll be posting the recipes I used over on FYB tomorrow.

2.  We took care of "the girls" so Mom and Dad could attend Dennis's celebration of life.  From their accounting of it, it was a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man.

3.  Brien managed to fix the passenger sliding door on my van--thank goodness!  It broke and we didn't make it to church as a result.  But, the door is fixed now. :o)

4.  I found a wonderful and inspirational blog kept by a woman who has lost 125 pounds. 

5.  Lissie emailed to let me know Pandapas Pond is full of water once more.  Hallelujah! :o)

No milestones.

****ETA****
Well, it's official, Bitty will be missing her first day of school tomorrow.  I just put her to bed with a fever of 102.3.  She was chattering and chilled and couldn't get warm.  I dosed her with ibuprofen and snuggled her under her covers. She's having no symptoms other than the fever and just generally feeling pitiful.  She was fine this morning, and by just after religious ed, she was ill.  Poor Bitty.  I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow on the off-chance it's 'flu and we can get her some Tamiflu.  We'll see.  This is one of the times it really sucks to be a parent--you have a sick baby and can't do a thing about it.  :o(

Loss

A high school friend was killed Wednesday afternoon.  He was driving with his one year old son and was hit head on.  He died at the scene.  His son was fine. 

He was such a sweet, kind and funny guy.  He had his own small business producing custom drums and percussion, a perfect profession for him.  He was a father, brother, son, husband, and friend. 

I hadn't spoken with him since I graduated, but kept up with him through Josh (his best friend).  He lived across the street from B and his family in two different neighborhoods--funny how that works. 

I'm at a loss.  "Why??" comes to mind.  As does, "What should I do?  What can I do?"  Mom and Dad will be attending the funeral service tomorrow.  It's a long haul from here so they'll be leaving after work today. 


I tell you what, it's made me sit back and think.  We're in the prime of our lives, nothing bad is supposed to happen to us!  And yet, the unthinkable has happened.  It's brought me back around to all those lessons I learned from when we lost Hannah, all those things I swore I wouldn't forget, and yet, somehow over the course of the past four years have. 

Take nothing for granted.  You are only guaranteed today.  Send your loved ones out the door with a hug, a kiss, a kind word, and a smile for you have no guarantee they'll be coming home to you and you want to remember your last moments with them as wonderful. 

I'm afraid I was taking Brien for granted and this woke me up.  Sometimes we need that wake-up call.  I just wish it hadn't come in the form of Dennis's death. 

Pop Culture

As I've said so often, I'm a big ol' nerd who enjoys geek TV.  I'm sadly out of touch with all that is wonderful and amazing in the land of pop culture.  I get clued in through listening to conversations and reading some websites, but for the most part, I'm in the dark. 

I say this because I've been thinking about my post from the other evening about Lily watching the good "Star Wars" movies and the need to see them not just because they are enjoyable, but because there are any number of cultural references to them.  The same is true for "The Wizard of Oz" (which she has yet to see due to my childhood hangups with the terrifying flying monkeys).  Kirsten mentioned "Forest Gump" and I've been thinking that "The Sound of Music" is right up there as well.

So, my question to you is, what movies do you think kiddos need to see due to their significance in cultural references?

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Sparklies:

1.  This pony is too funny:

2.  From this morning.

3.  This cutie pie all bundled up against the cold and wind:

4.  Talking to Dani.  :o)
5.  All the websites blacked-out because of SOPA and PIPA.  While on the one hand, it's been a bit of a frustration (I wanted to make pitas and my recipe site was dark--ACK!!), on the other hand, these folks and sites are taking a stand for what they believe in, and I can't fault them for that.
6.  I saved over $90 on groceries today!!!!  WOO HOO! I did some major restocking and stocking up.

No milestones.

Teddy Bears

Lily and I had the most delightful conversation this morning.  She had brought Bear downstairs with her and had a carrying-bag for him as well.  She looked at me and said, "This is Bear's bed.  He's very tired this morning.  This is where he's going to sleep all day.  He's nocturnal, you know."

And, from there, something rather imaginative and insightful occurred.  It seems that teddies have a very important job.  They are to stay awake all night, protecting their children from harm in the form of monsters, bedbugs and nightmares.  When the morning comes and their children go to school, they are finally able to rest. 

Buuuuut, the big teddy bears are diurnal, like us, so they stay awake during the day to protect the smaller loveys. 

I like it! :o)

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Sparklies:

1.  I found this on my walk yesterday, so not technically today, but still fun:

2.  My George's bikini is showing!

3.  Okay, this too is from last night, but it was wonderful.  B lit a fire and all my candles, and it was warm and cozy and fragrant in my house: 

4.  Now this is from this morning: 

I'm SO blessed to have such a wonderful place to walk and jog.  :o)  I've not yet walked the same route twice and yet, I've walked everyday since last Monday.

5.  Also from this morning:

 Ellie is not very patient with me stopping to take photos so I have to snap them quickly!

6.  Ah, this sock.  There's a story here.

Last week, during one of our walks, Ellie managed to lose one of her white mittens.  I was upset and we walked home the same way (different beginning of the walk) the next day to try to find it, but to no avail.  The mitten was gone.  Or, so I thought.  I'll be darned if it wasn't waiting for us on a branch, waving like a white flag, rather like this guy!  Some good Samaritan has been lifting lost clothing items off the trail and putting them up like flags for the owners to find.  :o)  Needless to say I was delighted to recover the lost mitten, and hope the owner of this cute little sock is equally happy. :o)

6.  The lungs and heart are so happy!  The legs?  Eh, we're working on it. ;o)  I've been sleeping SO well!  When Brien's alarm went off at 5:30 this morning I could have (and most likely should have) gotten up, fully rested.  I chose to lay in bed instead.  Not tomorrow.  Nope.  Gonna get up!

7.  Happy Birthday to Gracie-Goo who is two years old today.  Time is a flyin'!

No milestones.

MLK Day

“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

Wise words from a very wise man.

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We stayed home today.  Lil loves being a homebody and having pajama days, so that's what she did.  In typical Ellie fashion, she destroyed the house.  B hung out with the girls while I went out for my walk/(ha ha ha)jog. 

I know it's early days yet, but I feel more committed this year than I did last. Yeah yeah, easy to say when I'm only just beginning, I know.  But, I'm feeling good.  I'm not overdoing it.  I've checked out the "Couch to 5K" program at Dani's suggestion and will begin that after I lose a bit more weight (right now my joints are groaning and complaining, no need to make them any angrier). 

I'm not a huge fan of the "thin pinners" on Pinterest, nor am I into "thinspiration".  However, there is much to motivate one over on the pin boards, and I've found a number of things to help me out. My goal isn't to be thin, my goal is to be healthy.  There is a difference. 

I keep reminding myself it's not a matter of me comparing myself to others, but just worrying about me.  It's like being in middle school all over again.  As one of my pins says, "No matter how slow you go, you're lapping everyone on the couch."  That's it exactly.  It's about me and my ability to move and run and play and be with my kids.  It's about not huffing and puffing taking care of the laundry, drat it all. 

I remember just how wonderful I was feeling last March.  That was a good feeling.  I'd like to feel like that all the time from now on, and I know what I must do to achieve it. 
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Today's Sparklies:

1. Remembering Dr. King and all he did for the Civil Rights movement. 
2.  Family time.
3.  I was able to run a bit more than yesterday.  In fact, the tiredness was in my legs more than my heart and lungs.  I'll get there yet!
4.  Ahhh, pink chicken for dinner.  We do love some chicken tikka masala around here.

No milestones. 

Weekend Report

Friday was "Wacky Tacky Day" at Lil's school.  My first thought was, "Oh, those poor teachers!!"  Those sorts of days are always the WORST for behavior.  Everyone is so excited they are just out of control.  Lil and I talked about the fact such days are hard for teachers and I asked what she could do to help out Ms. W.  She thought for a bit and said, "Be an extra good listener."  I received no report otherwise, so I'm assuming all went well. :o)
 

Sometimes I think Lily is cursed to have a teacher for a mom.  Because I know all about how things in schools work, my initial response to some situations isn't "Oh COOL! I wonder what we can put together for this!" and is instead, "Oh good lordy mercy.  Those poor teachers!"

That's not fair to Bitty because she is so excited by these things.  I tried not to squelch her enjoyment and instead we planned her outfit for the day.  She decided the shirt and pants just didn't match and were perfect.  Then to up the wackiness, she turned the shirt inside out and backwards.  The pants are simply backwards.  The socks don't match and there are two different shoes.  I think she did a pretty good job wacky tackying it up. :o)

 This one saw the camera, wanted her picture taken (the "cheeeeeeese" clued me in), but then didn't stay still long enough for me to get a clear one. 

 And, I just loved this beautiful profile last night.  Typically, the TV is off while we eat, but we ate late last night and were in the middle of watching "The Empire Strikes Back" and Lil just couldn't stop watching (it was her first time watching it).  The beetled brows indicate Luke and Darth Vader are in the middle of the epic battle--this did not make her happy as she was quite worried about Luke. 

And yet, despite the slightly worried face, I saw such sweetness in the softness of her cheeks and her beautiful little mouth.  What a sweet girl. 

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A quick story for posterity's sake (I wasn't going to share to save Nana's feelings, but Pop gave me permission ;oP):

Nana and Pop made 15 bean soup and bread for dinner and invited us over to share.  Boy howdy am I happy they did!  The moment I walked in the door and was greeted with the heavenly aroma of the ham and beans and the yeasty-ness of the baking bread, my stomach tried to jump out of my body and dive into the food.  :oP

As I was sitting at the island, chatting with Mom and Dad and catching up, Mom said something along the  lines of, "Well, we'll see how the bread turns out.  It's a bit of an experiment."  To which I replied something like, "Because you're not sure how it's going to turn out or because it's a new flavor we haven't tried before?"  Turns out it was a bit of both.

As anyone who has made 15 bean soup knows, it comes with a ham flavor packet.  As anyone who has made bread machine bread knows, it comes with yeast and a flavor packet. 

Mom was busy putting everything together into the machine, not paying much attention.  She came to a packet and thought, "I thought I already put the yeast in...?  Oh well" and added the yeast.

Later, when looking for the flavor packet for the beans...yeah, you know where I'm going.  We had "Ham and Cheese Bread" for dinner this evening. :oD At least, that's what Brien called it.  Nana called it "European Cheese & Herb Bread with Ham".  Whatever you choose to call it, it was actually quite tasty. :o) 

Oh the belly laughs we all got from this. :oD

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Weekend Sparklies:

1.  Brien cooked and cleaned the kitchen last night.  Check out dinner:

These are cabbage rolls and holy mackerel are they AWESOME!  If you are interested in the recipe, let me know and I'll post it over on FYB.
2.  Lil has now watched the original "Star Wars" trilogy.  I think there are certain movies everyone needs to see due to their pop cultural references.  "The Wizard of OZ" comes to mind, as do the "Star Wars" movies.  "Back to the Future" is in there as well.  What others can you think of?
3.  Two walk/jogs of 2 miles this weekend.  I forgot how much better I sleep when I get good exercise.  I've slept better this past week than I have in a long long while.
4.  Ellie was a doll in church this morning--until she pulled out her Baby Bible.  Oh my.  She began identifying all the animals and their accompanying sounds, and y'all know babies don't know how to whisper.  "Goggie, woof woof (in a really high pitched yip)" "Wion ROAR".  I kept trying to acknowledge with whispers and saying, "Sh, use as quiet voice" all to no avail.  Oh well.  They love her. :o)
5.  More recent Ellie speak:

• "Cheese"=Jesus (yup, that's one of my faves, lol)
• "I got it!"
• "A-hep"=Help
• "I reddy"
• "Cocks"=socks
• Frogs say "biddit"
• "Bocks" are now "bucks"
• "Howwy"=Holly
• She identifies both the kitties and calls them by name
• She identifies both of Nan and Pop's pups and calls them by name
• "Titty"=Kitty (isn't it fun how babyspeak is so often rather inappropriate?)
• She can identify all parts of the face and will poke you to point them out.  She also does it in books and pictures.
• Many words are sing-songed "Shooooes", "Jackey" (jacket), "Sleeeeeve", "Aaaaaarm", "Paaaaaants", etc.  I'll have to get a video.
• If she wants a sip of something you're drinking she'll say "Mommy's" "Daddy's" "Wiwwy's", etc.

No milestones. 

Back on the Wagon

If there's anything I do particularly well, it's keep it honest and real.  I know my flaws and faults, I know what I'm good at, and I'll be up front about it.  I have a tendency to not want to do something if I perceive it to be hard or think it's going to be hard.  As I've said before (many times, alas), I'm an inherently lazy person.  I am.  I'm rather ashamed of it, but there it is. 

The thing is, my need for order and neatness typically overcomes that lazyitis and things stay fairly well-ordered and organized around here.  Typically.  There are definitely moments when things aren't great, but most of the time nothing is out of control or so awful it'll take more than 30 minutes to an hour to put to rights.

I wish that need for order could somehow rear its head with regards to my health and eating and exercise.  I did so well last year from the middle of January to May.  I was feeling great and SO proud of myself!  And then, somewhere along the way, I fell off the wagon and my routine, and I fell HARD.  Any progress I had made is gone.  I gained back all the weight I lost (can you see the red glow coming from my hot cheeks as I admit this?) and as for being heart healthy and exercising, well, forget it.  That went away too.  I struggled to get in shape, I was in shape, I should have maintained it.  I didn't. 

I fell into the same unhealthy patterns of eating and moving that have been my life for so many years now.  I love food.  I adore food.  I mean GOOD, tasty food--typically the kind loaded in fat.  If something tastes that delicious, typically it tastes like seconds. 

I ate to filling overfull. And continued to do it, even though I didn't like how I was feeling.  If I was feeling a bit peckish, I would pick up whatever the girls were having (or worse), and instead of measuring out, I would simply eat from the container.  Self-control?  What self-control??

When I was bouncing along the ground, watching the wagon leave me in the dust, I gave up on the scale.  He and I haven't met up in months (and months and months and months).  I could tell all my hard work was gone by the way my clothes were fitting and the way I felt, I didn't need to see the number on the scale to tell me that.

I started the new year with the desire to fix things and KEEP THEM FIXED.  This morning, I bit the bullet and got on the scale.  I was positive I had put back on everything I lost plus more and was afraid to look.  Thankfully, I hadn't!  In fact, I'm pretty much back to square one, as if last year's efforts never occurred.  Thank goodness!

I'm once more keeping a food log and being mindful of portions and what I'm putting in my mouth (not idly picking at the girls' food and such).  I'm moving again.  I'm working on losing a bit so my joints don't hurt as much when I begin to work on cardio in earnest.  I'm working on self-control, especially where my beloved carbs are concerned.  Carbs are good in small amounts, not in the portions I like to have them.  ;o)

I've felt better the past few days--getting up and getting out and getting moving--than I have in a long long while.  I'm sore, but it's a good kind of sore.  I've done this once and I know I can do it again.  And, this time around I'm determined not to fall off that wagon and let it pull away from me.  If I fall, I'm fully prepared to bounce right back on again!

I'm embarrassed as I write this.  Robin and I were talking about it, and the thing is, having been slender most of my life, I feel I have to make excuses and explain that "I haven't always been this way".  There's such a stigma attached to being fat and I'm tired of it.  I want to be healthy for me and my family, not because of what others think (at least this is what I'm telling myself). 

So, here I am, once again making this effort to better my health and my future.

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  Dani, I had Map My Run from when you downloaded it.  It's WONDERFUL!  Thank you! :o)
2.  3 miles this morning and it was GORGEOUS.  This is like no winter I've experienced in quite awhile.  But, it's nice for taking a morning walk.
3.  Hey, I'm ahead of where I was last year with regards to moving and eating better.  I didn't start eating well until mid-January, and I didn't begin working out until mid-February.
4.  Even though she napped for a bit in the stroller this morning--how odd!--Bean is taking a lovely nap right now.  Whew!
5.  New people came to Bible Study last night.  Our numbers have grown from four to nine! :o)
6.  Sleeping well.  I forgot how much better I sleep when I get decent exercise.  Duh!

No milestones.

Growing and Changing

I've been sitting on these photos for a few days now and wanted to get them posted.

 I know, I know, what's new about the Bean reading?  Nothing, really, except I derive such pleasure from watching her read and enjoy herself.

The raspberries were on HUGE sale, I needed them for B's cake, they go bad quickly, Lily enjoyed them. :o)

 Please excuse the chaotic mess and instead focus on the cute

This was yesterday.  This one can't help but "cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeese" the moment she sees a camera.  I love the scrunched up nose. :o)

My mom was asking me what sorts of things Miss Beanie is into and interested in these days and I had to give it some thought.  She still loves "Despicable Me" best of all, but even then, only watches for maybe 15 minutes max.  She just isn't that into TV--yet. ;o)  She of course loves her "bocks" and playing with Lily.  She loves being under covers (a few mornings ago I found her in Lil's bed, snuggled under her covers) and cuddling under blankets. 

As for interests, well, she's still loving art (markers, crayons, pens, you name it) and being outside (as long as she's not confined).  She enjoys Lil's Lite Sprites and anything electronic-y gadget-y--i.e. my iPhone, B's iPod touch, my computer, my Nook, etc. 

She's very good about turning off the electronics when she's finished with them, so there is that at least.  She's also good about turning off the Tag reader and putting her clothes in the laundry hamper.  She's the neatest of my girls at this age--and I'm hoping like crazy it continues.  :fingers crossed:

She's speaking more and more, but so much of it is language that only those of us who are with her all the time can understand.  Hannah was such a talker and so easy to understand from such an early age, that's it's still difficult to believe Lil and Ellie weren't/aren't.  But this one is far more interested in her physical development than her verbal skills.  It all evens out in the end.

She's also very good about letting us know it's time for "night night".  She'll look at us and say it!  So, I take her up and put her down for her nap (which right now is anywhere from 12:30 or 1:00ish until at least 2:30, although she's been known to go until 4:00). 

The one thing Miss Bean DOESN'T like is being restrained--as in the car seat, stroller, etc.  We went out walking again this morning (B had the BEST site for me to track my distance--2+ miles both days, and in under 40 minutes both times.  No, I'm not setting the world on fire, but I'm not dawdling either) and she was more patient with me.  Of course, I didn't really stop to take photos, either.  We just got a move on and kept going.  Meanwhile, I'm trying to make this a habit and keep doing it.  The birds, the fresh air, the scenery...ahhhh.  It was wonderful (although beginning to spit rain) again today. :o)

And, Captain Random has struck yet again.  Sorry.  As for Miss Ellie, she's growing so quickly it's unbelievable.  I no longer have a baby at all. 

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  Our morning walk.
2.  The birds were nearly cacophonous. I think we get so used to tuning them out that we actually have to strain to hear them.  Yet, once you do hear them, it's hard NOT to. :o)
3.  My body can tell it's been moving again.  Yay! I think... ;o)
4.  Getting the playroom cleaned and organized once again.  Whew.
5.  I got the rest of the Christmas trees taken down yesterday.  Whew again.

No milestones.

Motivation

This morning dawned dark, cold and foggy.  Determined to follow through on my goals and get moving once again, I donned some warm clothes, snuggled Beanie into the jog stroller, and we were off once the bus came and left.

I was only able to snap a couple of quick photos because I wanted to keep moving and because Ellie was none too pleased whenever I would pause for a moment.  Go go go seems to be her motivator.  :o)

 This image and the following were taken within mere seconds of each other, yet the lighting is so very different.

 I was able to jog for a bit here and there as well as walk, and I have to say, that yes, I feel good.  I didn't think I wouldn't, but I always forget how good I do feel once I've finished "exercising", whatever that may be.

Bean and I were mostly silent on our walk.  Sure, we sang a bit here and there, and yes, there was the occasional screech and squawk of displeasure when I would stop (only three times), but mostly, we were quiet.  All this silence allowed me to really tune into the morning world around me--the crunch of others' feet on the graveled and dirt path, the birds singing and calling to one another, the trickle of water, the snap and crack of something in the underbrush, the chatter of squirrels chastising one another. 

My heart was made glad and light and my batteries recharged.  This is the way to begin the day. :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1. I fear we may have no snow this year.  The winter has been so mild, and well, warm that I just don't see any white fluffy in our future.  In fact, it's been so warm we have a number of confused plants out and about:

 2.  Look at this imp:

How can you not smile when faced with this?  Even if it does interrupt your picture taking to keep you moving along the trail.
3.  And, her hair is long enough I've started pulling it back to keep it out of her face. 

 How in the world has the child's hair grown so quickly?
4.  My lunch was divine and I had to share:

Oh this was satisfying on so many levels. That would be chicken salad in the 'cado and it was tasty. :o)
5.  I have pintos in the crock pot and they smell tasty too.  I swear, my stomach is rumbling even as I type.  We'll have them with some fresh bread and a nice salad.  Mm. :o)
6.  My morning walk.  It wasn't a stroll and it wasn't a power walk, but it was a good brisk clip and I feel good.

No milestones.