From Death to Life

search engine optimization

Friday was a day of extremes, it seems. First, we got a call that Andrew's grandmother passed away. We knew she had just been diagnosed with cancer and was about to receive treatment, but we didn't know it was as bad as it was. It was sort of sudden. We will be attending the funeral next week.

Then I get a call that I am now an Aunt!! I am so excited! My brothers boy was born yesterday. His name is Ivan. My brother tells me he has a full head of black hair, just like my dad. Both of my kids were just sort of fuzzy. I can't wait to meet the little guy that has made me an aunt for the first time. Being an Aunt is different than being a mom. I suppose it's sort of like being a grandma. You can spoil them and then send them home. Ahhhh, I'm going to enjoy this.

Talk about mixed emotions.

Oh and I'm doing 8.5lbs. Just 6.5lbs to go. Or 16.5lb or 26.5lb depending on what goal weight you are looking at. I took Maggie's advice and am reading Never Say Diet. I'm only on the first chapter, I'll let you know. So far so good. I like that the first change is the mind. Then the body. But I also like that it has a God-emphasis on it too.

Pray for Andrew. I know this is hard for him. The funeral is a bit of a drive.

Pray for my brother and sis-in-law. I know how difficult first babies can be. But I know he will be loved.

200 Sit Ups Challenge

search engine optimization

I've been following Tammy's Push Up Challenge and while it sounds good, I didn't really think I needed to do it. My upper body already looses weight pretty fast, it's the lower half I need to work on. But then, THEN, she posted about doing the 200 Sit Ups Challenge. Great. Like I need anything more to do. But hey, that's exactly where I need to work. Those stinkin size 12 and 10 jeans are sitting idly in my closet. I want to get back into them! And it's my stomach that's the problem. What can I say, for the better part of last year my stomach had it's own zip code. So I've decided to do it. Surprisingly enough I was able to do 85 with the initial test. I get to start on week 3. Yay for me.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Simple Woman's Daybook 1.19

search engine optimization

FOR TODAY January 19, 2008
Outside my window...is a greenhouse, hundreds of gravestones, and a church covered in snow.
I am thinking...I really need to go to bed.
I am thankful that...I can genuinely enjoy my son.
From the kitchen...comes the aroma of a chocolate candle burning. Hey, no calories.
I am wearing...a long sleeved pj shirt, pj pants and my slippers.
I am creating...a home, a haven, a peaceful abode for my family.
I am going...nowhere, I never go anywhere.
I am reading...The New Strong-willed Child.
I am hoping...for spring.
I am hearing...the sound of the exhaust fan in the kitchen. (I think that candle burned out.)
Around the house...is quiet and peace.
One of my favorite things...is snuggling with hubby.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Laundry, cleaning, playing with the kids.
Here is picture thought I am sharing... cuz it's just darn cute
More Daybooks here.

Weight Loss Update

search engine optimization

Post-baby weight-loss is coming along well. I thought I'd post an update on it. I found out, however, that even when I get back to my pre-baby weight, I'll still be 20lbs overweight, according to whatever. So it looks like I've got my work cut out for me. Here's where I stand from November:

• lost 7lbs
• 1.5 inches off my chest (.5 inches to pre-baby)
• 1.5 off abs (that is 2.5 inches smaller than pre-baby, yay!)
• 2.5 off waist (5.5 to go)
• 1 inch off thighs (.5 smaller than pre-baby)
• 2.5 inches off hips (.5 to go)
• 1 inch off upperarms (.75 smaller than pre-baby)
• .25 off calves (that is pre-baby)

So I am trimming up all over, which is nice. Some are way smaller than pre-baby, which is really nice.

I have a very good routine that seems to be working. I'm doing interval training, I ditched the running, I got bored. I do intervals every other day and on the off days I do walking or kickboxing. I also got Core Fusions Body Sculpt DVD. It is a total body toning that incorporates core work and posture in everything. It is tough. But it has moves for beginner to advanced. So I don't have to worry about growing out of this DVD, it grows with me. It has 5 10 minute segments, so I do either 2 or 1 everyday. That way I'm always toning something. And I can tell a difference. Every toning session is followed by stretching on this DVD. I just ordered the Pilates Plus for some variance of workouts. I get bored easily. I can't wait for spring to come so I can put Rhys in the Mei Tai and take Nadia for a walk. That will really peel off the pounds.

I am very careful about my food intake. I've cut all the bad stuff and am eating lots of fruits and veggies, with good proteins and whole grains. I've gotten rid of my after dinner frozen yogurt (I was really rationalizing that, it's yogurt, it's good for me!) and enjoy fruit instead. My milk production is still really good, Rhys still eats a lot and is growing a lot. I eat when I'm hungry and try to make sure it's good, nutritious stuff. I do allow myself just a small piece of chocolate after he goes to bed. Hey, I gotta have something! And boy is it good!

Here is a current pic:
Here is my last pic in November.

So that's what's up, or rather down, with the baby weight.

My New Toy

search engine optimization

You might all remember when my buttonholer function went caput on my Brother sewing machine. I had a vest I was making for Andrew, that I had been trying to get done for two years, between moving and getting pregnant, it just didn't get done. Well before Rhys was born, like September I was frantically trying to get it done. It was almost done, except the buttonholes and the sides, which get hand sewn. Wouldn't ya know it, the dern thing decides it's not going to sew those buttonholes. GRRRR. Nice time for a strike. So, I demoted it. Andrew got me a new sewing machine for our anniversary. YAY!! He got me a Janome DC3050. How cool is that? Not only does it do buttonholes, but it does three! It will also take me into the beginners world of quilting and do quite nicely for that seamstress thing I'm thinking about doing later in life. It has a nice nice warranty on it. I'm stoked. I'm already thinking up several projects. First will be a vest for Rhys for his dedication made from Andrew, my dads and Andrew's dad. Then a dress for Nadia's birthday, another vest for Andrew's birthday and then a quilt made from Rhys' receiving blankets for his birthday. I can't wait.

Meanwhile, my hubby got his bow refitted, some arrows and a target. I have my own Elf in the house. You know, Lord Of The Rings elf, not like Keebler, cookie baking elf. Although I wouldn't mind someone other than me making cookies every once in a while. I digress. As soon as he strings his bow I'll post a pic of him on here. I'm excited he's found a sport to enjoy. This will give him an outlet and some enjoyable exercise. We all need that.

6 Years of Wedded Bliss

search engine optimization

We celebrated our 6th anniversary saturday. YAY! I can't believe I've been married for 6 years already. It's gone so fast. We've been through so much. Andrew is a blessing and a gift still to this day. I thank the Lord for putting us together.

No big trip this year. I told hubby I don't want any babies from this anniversary. He agreed. We did go out to dinner. Just the two of us. It was nice. I ate way too much. Oh well, that's ok. It's good for milk production, right?

Christmas 2008 Remembered

search engine optimization

Christmas this year was good. It was a 'lounge' day and we didn't go anywhere. I don't even think we went outside the house. We got up, opened presents and Andrew requested pancakes so I made pancakes for breakfast. Rhys decided that day was going to be a nap day, so he napped pretty much the whole day, so that means I got to nap too. The next day we were visited by my in-laws since we didn't go down for Christmas. So it was really nice. Not traveling is so nice. Especially with two kids.

Here are some pics for your enjoyment.
I got a new bible to take to church. It's hard to hold my old one, it's so big. So Andrew got me a small one. I so enjoy reading along now. And I got a nice new pair of slippers. My old ones were wore out.

It was a good relaxing Christmas. I can't think of one like it before. Maybe we'll start a new tradition in our house. Eh, I'm not holding my breath.

It's Coming....

search engine optimization

I'm sorry, I haven't written anything for a while. And it's not that I haven't had anything to say, I do, I just don't have anytime to say it! I have a list of things to update you all on, including pics. So much has happened since my last update. Maybe this afternoon, when the kids are all asleep. Ah, sleep. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Oh, I'm sorry, did I doze off?

Gotta go. I have another list waiting to be worked on.

Oy.