Success

After weeks and weeks of not losing ANY baby weight, I finally saw the number drop. Three whole pounds!! I felt like I did good this week but sometimes that feeling is way off so I was shocked when that number appeared. It's so easy to get in the mind frame that it is completely impossible even though I know that there is no secret to it and that the reason I was maintaining and not losing was all because I was eating the same amount as I was burning. It's not rocket science (I like how that is the expression, like rocket science is the most amazing thing and no other type of science can compare).

What's changed since the previous week? Well, for starters I am at work again meaning I can occupy my time better/distract myself. Really, though, that wasn't the problem before. The main thing is that I have limited what I am eating to a "strict" routine. I wish I could be more free with it but I am a servant to routine... just do better with it.

Breakfast: Oatmeal with peaches. So good. And I make enough for Mike so now he is eating breakfast which is something he has never really done before on a regular basis.

Lunch: Green monster. I know that I will have to mix it up eventually but luckily there are thousands of recipes out there so I can continue to make the smoothies but also have some variety.

Supper: Whatever we have planned. I give more freedom here because I am so strict during the day. It takes away the stress of planning every detail at the end of the day. I am always out of motivation to stick with it by that point so having that freedom saves me more than I realize most of the time.

This lovely calendar is my baby. I am proud of it so don't knock it too hard! I did this before I went back to work to help things run more smoothly at night. It helps Mike know what the heck I'm doing and I am way more organized and cost-efficient when I go to the grocery store each week because I know exactly what I need and don't waste money and time buying stuff we won't really need. I hate throwing away food so this plan saves us from a lot of that too.

I hope this system works long term. Let me know if you have any suggestions or better ideas. I love to learn new things, especially when it makes life easier!

Count the quality of your moments together rather than quantity of your minutes.

I got this from a blog I follow and it hit me hard.

The last couple of days have been so bittersweet. I am finding that there are a lot of things I enjoy with my "new" job and I'm not upset or bummed out when I go to work in the morning. Yet I want to spend so much more time with my daughter and every little thing that gets in the way like cleaning, cooking, or organizing just stresses me out. I think I need to relax a bit and think about the quality of life instead of quantity of time spent on each thing.

I've lived my life planning every little detail. It helped me be successful at a lot of things, a lot more than my peers took the time to do. Because I was so organized I was able to graduate in the standard 4 years after switching my major at least 3 times. I was able to have 3 jobs and more than 20 credits most semesters and still have time for friends and family. I was busy, and yes a little stressed, but it gave me a huge sense of accomplishment and work ethic and I wouldn't change that for anything.

Now though, my life is completely different. No longer am I pushing forward to the next stage. I am making every effort to enjoy this stage I am in because let's face it, it's a long one! The next stage for me would be after kids... I can't even imagine where we will be in this world at that point. With this new perspective, I am finding that I have to change more than just my routine. I have to change my whole way of thinking. I had myself trained to always look for the fastest most efficient way. If I do that now, Josie will be grown up and moving out before I can even blink.

I have such a great life. A job that is secure, a beautiful baby, a supportive, sweet, and faithful husband, and a goofy full-of-love dog to come home to at nights. I have a house, a close knit family, and my health. What more could someone ask for? I just can't stress enough how God has blessed me.

I hope that by this time next year I will have figured out a way to be efficient while enjoying each moment. I hope I will be able to look back without regrets and say "I did the best I could and wouldn't change a thing".

Josie giggles. We love it.

Anything to keep her in her carseat happy and screamless... sorry about my background noise... but blowing on her face makes her giggle more.

Glad I was able to catch some father/daughter time!

Summer's end pictures

Off we go to Maplewood Park... celebrating our anniversary.

 

 

 

Operation bike ride/hike a mini mountain complete.

Lunch time... I had left over Subway and Mike got the wonderful PB&J's I made before we left. He was thrilled.

Back at the cabin soaking up as much J bean time as I can get.

 We just really "got it good"...