Monday, January 16, 2012

Holy crap!

This morning I put on a pair of jeans. Nothing new there, except that I pulled them on but couldn't do them up.... Panic sets in, "But I've been working so hard! I know I ate a piece of cake and other yummy things at the party yesterday, but this is ridiculous!"

And then I realize...

They were Mike's jeans.

My husband is also known as Mr. No Bum... And I was wearing his jeans! And except for not being able to do up the button, (and being too long) they actually fit! This is a HUGE deal for me. Never in my wildest dreams would I think of being able to put on and pull up his jeans.

I gained about 30 pounds while I was pregnant, which to me wasn't bad. I didn't really change my eating habits, no crazy cravings except for red licorice and cucumber (and occasionally french fries with ice cream, but that started before I got pregnant). That's not too bad, right? However I wasn't exactly "healthy" before becoming pregnant. But after Thom was born (and I started losing weight right away), I knew I needed to take some kind of control to ensure success. So when a friend mentioned he was trying a "Low G.I. Diet", and then we found a book with that very title at my in-law's, I figured it was meant to be.

That was in October. It's now January, and I've lost 61 pounds so far! And the best part is that it's still dropping! Slower than before, but slow and steady. I have to be aware of what I eat. Mike is super supportive, he does most of the cooking, I just have to tell him what to make! He also tries to eat two servings of everything because he CAN'T afford to lose any weight, he's already so freaking skinny.

I still have my temptations (*cough*chocolate*cough), but I act reasonably and rationally. I also don't restrict myself to the point of deprivation, because that will just make me want it more! If I'm going to a birthday party, I'm gonna have a piece of cake! Thanksgiving came and went, (successfully) Christmas came and went (mostly successfully). But when holidays were over, I got back to eating regularly and so far so good. I imagine the summer will be hard (ice cream...) but it's also easier to keep doing the right thing when I know it's working.

It's a journey!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

2012 is... Precious

I've been trying to write several posts for over a week now... Life gets in the way sometimes! And with a baby, "sometimes" is actually "most of the time".

So Mike and I went to a dinner/discussion type thing with a bunch of friends of ours from camp last night, and the conversation revolved around New Year's and the concept of "naming your year". This is a really interesting and beautiful blog post about the idea (http://www.aholyexperience.com/2009/01/year-naming/) approaching it from a Christian perspective but I think the idea is valid regardless of your religious (or not) beliefs (or not).

To name your year is to give it a theme, a plan. It's kind of a hope or wish or prayer for the year. Since I've never done this before, I have no idea how it's going to go... but that is much like the year itself. I have a general idea of things that might happen, e.g. Thom is going to grow! Craziness! But the specifics and day-to-day I have no idea e.g. I'd really like a new job to go "back" to after my mat. leave is over... *fingers crossed*.

The first word that came to my mind was "Precious", followed by "Cherish" and then "Be present". None of this is a shock to me, as I spend my days with the most precious and cherished boy in the world :) However, I know that as he grows and changes day to day I find I sometimes take him for granted. Especially when he's crabby or not sleeping well. Sometimes it's hard to remember that these days are absolutely precious, and his baby days are slipping by at an alarming speed.

I've also noticed that I'm having these weird, almost "out of body" experiences where I'm speaking or doing something and I feel like I'm watching myself do it. Or like my mouth is going but my head isn't attached to what it's saying. I assume it's because of sleep deprivation. This is SUPER dangerous because if you know me, you know I already have a very poor filter when I speak. Some people say I'm "brutally honest", some people have a less p.c. term for it!

So, my theme for this Precious year of 2012 is Be Present. Trying to appreciate and cherish every moment with my wonderful amazing baby boy, before he's too old to snuggle or too big to pick up and rock. Before I have to go back to work, wherever that may be. Cherish the moments and be fully present, even when he's screaming or puking or pooping everywhere. This too shall pass, and I'm sure it will go faster than any period of time I've ever experienced before. And then I will miss these days. 2012 is precious. I will cherish these moments and be fully present for those I love.

What is your name for 2012?

Monday, January 2, 2012

So this is the New Year...

For those who know me, you know that I typically have trouble with New Year's Eve. Auld Lang Syne used to make me bawl like a baby. I'm not sure where the hatred of this "holiday" came from but I always felt like I hadn't done anything worthwhile, and I hated acknowledging time had passed.

Last year I was too excited about the baby to be negative about New Year's. When this year rolled around, I was too busy having a great time and enjoying myself with my boys at a fabulous party!

So this brings me to the issue of "resolutions". Obviously in the past I never partook, (since I didn't believe in the whole system) except one brief stint where a friend and I gave up being self-deprecating. Pretty sure it lasted like two days.

But this year is different. I feel totally different because this year, I'm a Mom. So this year I'm making resolutions. They aren't going to be anything earth-shattering, but they're mine and they're important to me. So there you go. And I want them to be specific... none of this "Eat better, exercise more" stuff.

1. Recycle yogurt cups.
Specific enough? Small and manageable enough? I really would prefer to "Recycle More", but that's not specific. So I recently learned that my yogurt cups are actually recyclable, and therefore instead of simply throwing them away, I want to recycle them.

2. Exercise once a week.
I took up yoga in September, and I love it. Love love love it. Once a week (on Friday mornings) Thom and I go hang out with other Moms and babies and we do yoga together. It's my "me time", even though Thomas is right there. Did I mention I love it? I've also tried Bikram Hot Yoga a few times with my sister, but I imagine once she goes back to school I'll have a harder time motivating myself to go. So I'll say once a week, and if I do more than that, yay for me!

3. Laugh every day.
It seems so simple, and yet I don't know if I do it. I try, for sure. Mike and I laugh a lot, and I think that has managed to keep our stress level as new parents to a minimum. We still find each other ridiculous and enjoyable to be around. That also might have something to do with the sleep deprivation, but I'll take it! I also want to laugh with Thom as much as possible. His little smile warms my heart, and when he starts to giggle and laugh I feel like my heart might burst!

4. Wash my face twice a day, every day.
Again, seems so simple and yet... As a new Mom I'm learning about the importance of taking care of myself. Hence the yoga, the eating well diet thing, the weight loss etc. Well ever since getting pregnant, my skin just hasn't been the way it used to be. I've never had amazing skin, but I'm pretty sure it was never this bad. Add that to the fact that I'm totally exhausted and really good at putting myself after everyone else, (just like a Mom) so this is another small way for me to keep taking care of me!

That's it for now... I think those are attainable and manageable... At least I hope they are!
Another resolution would be to "write more", hence the blog. But I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. I want this blog to be more of my "musings" and rants and such... not something I HAVE to do, but something I enjoy :)