30 January 2012

Welcome To The Big Leagues, Kid

Yesterday was a big day for MJ.  Not only did he get to go to a petting zoo (and not touch anything), but he also got his first taste of solid food.  He's been on cereal for awhile, but I wanted to wait until Jonathan got home to start him on the "good" stuff.  I decided early on that I would make his baby food, not only because I felt it was better for him, but I'm also cheap . . . and after spending so much money on formula, we could use a little relief in our wallets. :)

So, anyway, I bought some organic carrots, steamed them, pureed them, and just like that:  we had baby food!  And now, for the first taste. . . 


Verdict is:  he likes it!


Not only did he get his first taste of solids yesterday, he also got his first haircut, courtesy of Daddy.  Just a little trim off the top and sides, but I think he looks even more handsome than before (if that's possible.)


He's growing up so fast!  Welcome to the big leagues, kiddo. :)

29 January 2012

52-Week Challenge: Week Five

So, I failed miserably at last week's challenge:  keeping a food journal.  I honestly don't pay that much attention to what I eat or how I feel when I eat or anything like that.  When I feel hungry, I eat.  Pretty much end of story.  My friend Kristen turned me on to a pretty useful app, however, called "My Fitness Pal," which allows you to journal your food intake and shows you nutrient areas you are lacking.  I liked it because it helped me to realize that, even though I eat fairly healthy, there are still ways to improve, and it showed me tips on how to do it.  I'm not sure it's something I will keep up with constantly, but it's an easy way to go if I (or anyone else) plans on sticking with the food journaling.  How did everyone else do?

This week's challenge is:  "Seeing the Glass Half-Full," and it's all about shifting your thoughts to a more positive way of thinking.  I had my doubts because, honestly, if it was as easy as just snapping your fingers and changing the way you think, wouldn't everyone have done it already?  I mean, wouldn't we all like to be more positive thinkers?  However, the tips the author give involve making a conscious decision to change what you're thinking about by consciously thinking certain thoughts.  For example:

1.  Using Affirmations.  Yes, this might seem cheesy.  I know there those of you (myself included) who are saying in your head a' la Stuart Smalley: "I'm good enough.  I'm smart enough.  And, gosh darn it, people like me."), but this is actually a legitimate process.  I am a Christian, so I plan on using Bible verses as my affirmations.  For example:

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  -John 3:16

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."  - I John 4:4

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."  -- 2 Timothy 1:7

These are just a few of the Scriptures that I like to speak over myself when I start to get down on myself or feel negative.  Tape them on your bathroom mirror or write them on notecards and carry them in your purse.

Of course, if you aren't a Christian, it doesn't mean that you can't do the same kind of thing.  You can most certainly do the same thing in a non-religious way by writing positive things about yourself and taping them on a mirror or carrying them with you and then saying them to yourself whenever you start to feel negative.

2.  Practice Gratefulness.  Realizing how much you have is a great way to lift your mood and remain positive.  A lot of people do an exercise around Thanksgiving where they write down something every day that they are thankful for.  I'm going to do the same thing this week, only I am going to do it every time I catch myself thinking negatively.

3.  Take Care of Yourself.  Nothing can make you feel better mentally than when you feel better physically.  So I'm going to continue to do my hardest to drink enough water, get plenty of sleep, and remain active.  It's easier to be happy when I don't feel like poo!

These are just a few of the things I'm going to do this week to try and meet this challenge.  Hopefully it will be one step in the direction of becoming a more positive thinker.  Feel free to share YOUR ideas too!  Good luck!

Bonnie Springs

Jonathan's looooooooooooooong TDY is finally over and, after 4 months, he is back home with us in Las Vegas.  He's taking a long weekend, and we decided to get out of the city today and head out to Red Rock Canyon.  Just on the outskirts of Red Rock Conservation Area is Bonnie Springs Ranch, an old 'Wild West' type park with museums and a zoo.  For my Tucson friends, think "Old Tucson" only "Old Nevada."  


View of Red Rock Conservation Area/Spring Mountain State Park from Bonnie Springs. . . 


Okay, I'm not going to lie:  we heard about this place on an episode of 'Ghost Adventures' we watched last night.  This is the one building where they actually caught some paranormal activity, and it was blocked off from visitors.  Oh, darn. ;)  But, it didn't stop Jonathan from snapping pictures in OTHER buildings, trying to catch orbs and apparitions.  Yep, he's a dork.


This was the other building they investigated on the show.  It WAS open to the public, but we didn't go in.  I'm a big baby.


View of Red Rock Canyon from the park.


We took MJ to the zoo, and there was a petting area.  What kind of parents take their kid to a petting zoo and don't let him touch the animals?  These kind of parents right here.  This is as close as he was allowed to get to the deer. . . 


. . . and the donkey. . .


. . . and the ducks and turtles.  But he DID enjoy looking at all of the animals at least. :)


He was allowed to pet his stuffed Oskar dog when he was back in the car, though.  And that was alright with him. :)

22 January 2012

52-Week Challenge: Week Four

So, how did everyone do with last week's challenge to incorporate more movement into your life?  I have to say:  this challenge actually showed me how much I MOVE, not how much I don't move.  I tried to add more movement to my day, but it was actually hard to find the time!  I realized that there are some days where I don't sit down for hours!  I'm always taking Oskar for a walk, cleaning, doing laundry, or something active.  I did add in standing while I ate (which I did not enjoy) and standing while I fed Matty (which he seemed to enjoy. . . especially when I threw in some dance moves).  I also parked away from the store when I went, which honestly wasn't a big deal.  Anyone else have issues with this challenge?

Anyways, onto week four.  The challenge this week is to keep a food journal.  Honestly, I'm not too psyched about this one.  Don't get me wrong:  I think a food journal is a great tool if you're trying to lose weight or eat healthier.  However, I'm trying to maintain my weight (okay, maybe lose these last few pounds of baby weight, but nothing huge), and I already eat pretty healthy.  So I think that a food journal, for me, would cause me to be consumed with thoughts about what I'm eating.  I would constantly be paying attention to what I ate, when I ate, how I was feeling when I ate. . . yuck.  I'm all about eating healthy, but I don't want to be thinking about the food I eat every single second of the day.  However, maybe I'm wrong.  I'm willing to try it for this challenge. . . but no guarantees.

So, okay, this week, keep a food journal.  Write down everything you eat and drink and the amount, as well as your appetite at the time you ate it (on a scale of 0-5), and your physical and emotional status before and after you eat.  This should help you recognize not only what you are truly eating but also your "hunger triggers."  Are you really hungry when you eat?  Are you eating because you're bored? Tired?  Sad?  Really helpful for those wanting to figure out how to cut out extra calories during the day.

Good luck!

21 January 2012

Inspiration for Mothers

I've been having a rough few days lately.  I think it's because I know this TDY is almost over, and I'm getting anxious for my husband to be home.  This makes every little irritant seemed magnified.  Pair this with a STILL teething baby who is refusing naps, refusing meals, refusing toys, flat-out refusing to want anything that doesn't involve being carried around by mommy.  Then you factor in the constant spit-up, the poopy diapers, and the never-ending pile of laundry. . . and I'm tired just writing about it.

Anyways, I found this article on the internet and, with all I've been going through, it really felt like it was speaking to me.  So I share it now for all the other "mothers with only one child" who may be needing a bit of encouragement today:

"To The Mother With Only One Child"
by Simcha Fisher


Dear Mother of Only One Child,

Don’t say it.  Before the words can even pass your lips, let me beg you:  don’t say, “Wow, you have nine kids?  I thought it was hard with just my one!”

My dear, it is hard.  You’re not being a wuss or a whiner when you feel like your life is hard.  I know, because I remember having “only one child.”  You may not even believe how many times I stop and reflect on how much easier my life is, now that I have nine children.

All right, so there is a lot more laundry.  Keeping up with each child’s needs, and making sure they all get enough attention, is a constant worry.  And a stomach bug is pretty much the end of the world, when nine digestive tracts are afflicted.

But I remember having only one child, and it was hard—so very hard.  Some of the difficulties were just practical:  I didn’t know what I was doing, had to learn everything.  People pushed me around because I was young and inexperienced.  But even worse were the emotional struggles of learning to be a mother.

When I had only one child, I truly suffered during those long, long, long days in our little apartment, no one but the two of us, baby and me, dealing with each other all day long.  I invented errands and dawdled and took the long way home, but still had hours and hours to fill before I would hear my husband’s key in the door.

I cared so much what other people thought about her—they had to notice how beautiful she was, they had to be impressed at my natural mothering skills.  I obsessed over childhood development charts, tense with fear that my mothering was lacking—that I hadn’t stimulated her enough,  or maybe had just passed on the wrong kind of genes.  I cringe when I remember how I pushed her—a little baby!—to achieve milestones she wasn’t ready for.

I lived in terror for her physical safety (I once brought her to Urgent Care, where the doctor somewhat irritably diagnosed a case of moderate sniffles) fearing every imaginable disease and injury.  In my sleep-deprived state, I would have sudden insane hallucinations that her head had fallen off, her knees had suddenly broken themselves in the night, and so on.

My husband didn’t know how to help me.  I didn’t know how to ask for help.  My husband had become a father, and I adored him for it.  My husband got to leave the house every day, and sleep every night.  He got to go to the bathroom alone.  I hated him for it.

When I had only one child, I told myself over and over that motherhood was fulfilling and sanctifying and was filling my heart to the brim with peace and satisfaction.  And so I felt horribly guilty for being so bored, so resentful, so exhausted.  This is a joyful time, dammit!  I should enjoy being suddenly transformed into the Doyenne of Anything that Smells Bad.

I loved my baby, I loved pushing her on the swing, watching squirrels at the park together, introducing her to apple sauce, and watching her lips move in joyful dreams of milk.  But it was hard, hard, hard.  All this work:  is this who I am now?  I remember!

So now?  Yes, the practical parts are a thousand times easier:  I’m a virtuoso.  I worry, but then I move along.  Nobody pushes me around, and I have helpers galore.  Someone fetches clean diapers and gets rid of the dirty ones.  When the baby wakes up in the middle of the night for the ten thousandth time, I sigh and roll my eyes, maybe even cry a little bit for sheer tiredness—but I know it will pass, it will pass. 

It’s becoming easier, and it will be easier still.  They are passing me by.

I’m broken in.  There’s no collision of worlds.  We’re so darn busy that it’s a sheer delight to take some time to wash some small child’s small limbs in a quiet bath, or to read The Story of Ferdinand one more time.  Taking care of them is easy.  It’s tiring, it’s frustrating, but when I stop and take a breath, I see that it’s almost like a charade of work.  All these things, the dishes, the diapers, the spills—they must be taken care of, but they don’t matter. They aren’t who I am.
To become a mother, I had to learn how to care about someone more than I did about myself, and that was terrible.  But who I am now is something more terrible:  the protector who can’t always protect; the one with arms that are designed to hold, always having to let go.

Dear mother of only one child, don’t blame yourself for thinking that your life is hard.  You’re suffering now because you’re turning into a new woman, a woman who is never allowed to be alone.  For what?  Only so that you can become strong enough to be a woman who will be left.
When I had only one child, she was so heavy.  Now I can see that children are as light as air.  They float past you, nudging against you like balloons as they ascend.

Dear mother, don’t worry about enjoying your life.  Your life is hard; your life will be hard.  That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong—it means you’re doing it right.

Source: NC Register

15 January 2012

52-Week Challenge: Week Three

So I will admit, I didn't do all that great on last week's challenge to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night.  The fist night was not my fault, as I had a teething baby who was up all night.  I did pretty well the next few days but last night I was so engrossed with finishing the last book of 'The Hunger Games' trilogy that I didn't even look at the clock until I was finished. . . and let's just say it was waaaaaaay past my bedtime.  But any of you have read 'The Hunger Games,' I think you will forgive me.

Anyways, on the days I DID get 7-8 hours of sleep, I felt so much better.  I think I tend to alternate between getting way too much sleep and not getting enough.  It seems to be that I stay up way too late one night and don't get enough sleep, making me exhausted the next day.  I over-compensate this with going to bed super early that night and end up getting too much sleep---which actually makes me even MORE tired the next day.  It doesn't make sense to me, but it's true.  However, this week I did my best to have a set bedtime as well as a set wake-time, and I found myself not even needing coffee in the morning.  It was so nice. :)

Anyways, onto week three.  This week's challenge is called "Keep It Off the Couch."  Apart from exercise, incorporate regular and routine activity into your lifestyle.  This challenge is NOT about going to the gym 5 days a week or running 3 miles every day.  It is simply choosing to put more movement into your life.  I'll give you some examples of how I plan on implementing this to try and clarify.

1.  Take A Walk.  Walking is such a great, under-rated way to get moving.  I think people associate it with power walkers at the mall or old people exercise.  But walking is such a wonderful way to ensure you don't remain sedentary all day.  Take a walk before breakfast and after dinner.  It aids digestion and makes you feel better.  My mom takes a walk during her lunch break at work to be sure she gets one in during the day.  Or, do as I do:  walk your dog.  I see so many people with dogs, and I hardly ever see ANY of them out for a walk!  Poor doggies. . . and poor owners!  My dog would drive me absolutely insane if he didn't get his daily walk.  He gets a long one in the morning and a shorter one in the afternoon.  If you don't have a dog, take your kids for a walk.  Matty enjoys our walks almost as much as Oskar!  If you don't have kids or a dog, take a walk with a friend.  If you don't have friends, well. . . we have bigger problems.

2.  Stand Up.  This will be a new one for me this week. Instead of sitting and doing things, stand up.  Stand up and watch TV.  Stand up and play around on your computer.  Stand up and read.  I know this isn't feasible to do all the time and may actually weird some people out, but standing instead of sitting for a few minutes throughout the day is a start!

3.  Park as far away from the building as possible.  Getting in a few extra steps a day--even if its parking and walking through the parking lot of the grocery store instead of driving around for a half hour to find a close parking spot--will make you healthier AND save you time.  But, FYI, I DON'T recommend doing this at night.

4.  'Actively' Watch TV.  This is my second "during TV" suggestion because, well, I have certain shows that I just can't miss. :)  Instead of just sitting on the couch, DO something.  Clean the living room.  Do laundry.  Or, if you're really motivated, do some sit-ups or push-ups.  Anything to keep you moving, at least for a little bit.

5.  Have Fun.  Even the most die-hard couch potatoes are bound to find something active they enjoy doing.  So instead of sitting on the couch for hours when you're bored, replace it with some kind of activity:  biking, tennis, basketball, rollerblading.  Whatever you find that you actually enjoy.  As for me, I love to dance.  I don't do it well, but I enjoy it.  My dog and my son get quite a show when I get bored.

Okay, those are my suggestions and what I plan on doing this week to implement the challenge.  Do have any more ideas?  Feel free to leave them in the comments, and good luck!

14 January 2012

I Dare You Not to Smile

I dare you to watch this video and not smile.  Go ahead.


You smiled, didn't you? ;)


08 January 2012

52-Week Challenge: Week Two

Greetings!  Thank you to all of you who agreed to do this "52-Week Challenge" with me!  I'm looking forward to hearing how you implement each week's challenge and how successful you are.  I really think it will be helpful to share our personal experiences; someone who may be struggling with that week's challenge may get a tip from YOU and learn how to succeed!  I'll continue to link this blog to Facebook each week, but feel free to leave comments on here as well.  You never know who you might help by simply sharing your thoughts!

So, with that in mind, how did you all do with week one's challenge of drinking more water?  I didn't find this week to extremely difficult because I've always been quite a camel when it comes to drinking water; however, I don't think I've ever attempted to drink AS MUCH as I did the past week.  The first two days were a struggle.  I found myself gulping down at least half of the last bottle of water right before bed just to make sure I got it all in. . . and then I was up at least twice during the night to go pee!  But after the first few days, I seemed to actually crave the water.  I was feeling the need to drink more, and I wasn't forcing it anymore.  In fact, I found myself actually drinking MORE water than was necessary to complete the challenge.  I was downing FOUR Camelback bottles a day.  Did anyone else have this experience?

The only bad part of this challenge:  having to pee CONSTANTLY.  I felt like I was pregnant again.  Bluh.  Supposedly this will fade as your body gets used to the increased in-take of water.  Let's hope so.

Anyways, on to week two.  The focus this week is on sleep.  The challenge is to get 7-8 hours of restful sleep each night.  I can almost HEAR some of you sighing.  "Trust me, Jenn.  I WISH I could get 7-8 hours of restful sleep a night!"  Well, this week, make it a priority!

I know there are some things out of our control that might prevent us from meeting this challenge.  Small children, for example.  There will definitely be nights when 7-8 hours of sleep are impossible, but those should be the exception and not the norm.  Focus this week on things you can change to make 7-8 hours of sleep at least a possibility.

For example, I know that my son gets up between 7-8 every morning like clockwork.  That means I should be aiming at going to bed around 11:00 every night.  Easy enough, right?  Should be.  But I often find myself up waaaay too late doing silly things:  watching mindless TV, tinkering around on Facebook, playing 'Words With Friends, or--lately--reading.  I also have a bad habit of sleeping with the TV on which causes me to wake up several times each night.  These are things I can change to make sure I am at least setting myself up for 7-8 hours of sleep each night.  So this week I vow to turn off the tv and computer, put the book away, and get to bed at a decent hour.

As always make sure to check out the book '52 Small Changes' for more tips and facts on how to complete this week's challenge.

And by the way, before I go, I just wanted to remind that just because technically week one's challenge is complete, it doesn't mean you can just go back to not drinking any water!  Be sure to keep up with your goal!  Don't worry if you still have remind yourself to drink more.  Studies have shown that it can anywhere from a week to an entire year before our habits become actual habits.  But that's our ultimate goal during these next 52 weeks:  to turn these small changes into habits that will make us all "healthier and happier."

Good luck!  Be sure to share your experiences!

04 January 2012

A New Kind of Resolution. . .

Every year I make the same New Year's resolution:  to be healthier and happier.  And by the end of every year, I realize that I have failed.  Sure, I have survived another year without another major health issue, and  I consider myself a pretty happy person. . . but am I really healthier and/or happier than I was a year ago?  I have no idea.  And besides, who can tell?

So when I sat down this year and really started thinking about my New Year's resolution, I decided I wanted to do something different.  I discovered two major reasons that I always seemed to fail at this goal.  One was that it was too broad.  What did I mean by "healthier and happier?"  Did I want to lose weight?  Exercise more?  Eat better?  And what about being happier?  Did I want to smile more?  Be more kind?  What exactly did I mean?  The other reason was that it was too lofty of a goal to attain.  Being healthier and happier takes a million little changes that can seem overwhelming when you try to implement them all at once.  I usually started off really strong---no soda, veggies every day, exercising 5 x's a week, etc. . . but after the first month, I was so burnt out that I stopped trying.  It was a classic example of too much, too fast.

So the other day, I stumbled across the book '52 Small Changes:  One Year to a Happier, Healthier You.'  Each chapter details one small change you can make every week that will ultimately lead you to a healthier lifestyle, not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well.  You get a challenge a week (for example, week one is 'Drink Up!' and is all about drinking more water daily), and it then gives you tips on how to incorporate this change into your life and make it a habit.  To me, this seemed like a perfect solution to my failing New Year's Resolution.

So my question is:  who's with me?  I'm not really sure who even reads this blog, but if you're interested, I'll post the new challenge every Monday and we can work through it together.  Sort of an accountability thing.  I recommend getting the book if you want to participate (pretty cheap, especially if you get the Kindle version like I did.)

So, okay, week one:  drink more water.  The author recommends figuring out how much water your body needs by drinking the amount of water in ounces that equals your weight in pounds divided by two.  So for example, I weigh about 125 lbs, which I rounded up to 130, then divided by 2 for 65.  That means I need to be drinking AT LEAST 65 oz of water each day, more if I'm exercising, living in a dry climate (I am), or pregnant  (which I'm not).  Since I use one of the large Camelback water bottles which contain about 24 oz, I just rounded up again and told myself I need to drink at least three of those a day.  That will put me at 72 oz.  Easy enough?  I don't want to steal all of the author's thunder, though, so I'll leave it to you all to get the book and read her tips on how to drink more water throughout the day.

I've only been doing this challenge for 2 days, and I've succeeded both days.  Hooray!  I'm on my way to a "healthier and happier" me. . . now who will join me?

01 January 2012

Happy 5 Months, MJ (and Happy New Year to Everyone Else!)

Happy 2012!  Today we are celebrating not only a new year, but also MJ turning 5-months-old!  As always, here are few highlights of the past month.

Although we're sad Daddy is TDY, you sure have taken a liking to his recliner.  Here you are, looking like a typical man.


The weather turned semi-cold for a few days, and it was fun to get you all cozy in your new hat, made just for you by your Aunt Nicole.


CHEESE!


You have finally taken a REAL interest in Oskar.  Every time he comes around, you watch him like a hawk. . . 


And sometimes--SOMETIMES--he gets close enough for you to touch him.  He gives you kisses, and you try to "pet" him. . . which usually means you end up smacking him on the nose.  It's a good thing he loves you so much.


Aunt Erin took our family pics right after Christmas while Daddy was home for a few days.  Again, a few of my faves:  (**All pictures taken by e.s.photography.  If you like her work and are interested in her taking YOUR family pictures, check out her website.**)  



What makes this one so great is that he was looking up at me.  LOVE!


Go State!


Bring on the new year!  May you all be blessed!