Monday, August 19, 2013

Yummo

I've seriously a Beachbody advocate now that I've done insanity & started up the program AGAIN! My results were subtle, but very rewarding. There are areas on my body I've never had so toned in my life & I'm really excited and to see how the next 90 days go too! There are so many Beachbody videos to chose from, I can't wait to execute them all. I'm not at my pre-baby weight yet or goal weight for that matter, but I know that this round my focus in on clean eating & not letting the scale define me. It's challenging & it's a commitment, that is why I've started SHAKEOLOGY! Replace one meal a day with this delicious shake (not even kidding, it's delicious) & know that your putting the best of the best into your body. "It contains more than 70 natural ingredients derived from rich, nutrient-dense whole-food sources from around the world. Shakeology is so incredibly healthy, no other single food item out there can supply you with all the nutrients, vitamins, proteins, and minerals in the amounts you need the way one delicious shake can."- Beachbody
 
REMEMBER: Exercise 20%, Diet 80%
 
Nourishing myself is so important on a daily basis & even more so while breastfeeding. I have so many friends who don't eat clean or eat healthy meals daily, this is exactly what you need to get on track. Shakeology will help increase your energy, reduce cravings, lose weight, improve digestion and regularity, and transform your health. I decided to take the plunge into Team Beachbody because I LOVE HEALTH & FITNESS. I'm constantly talking my friends, family & even strangers ears off about my commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle. I see the importance in it everyday, during pregnancy, post & in the future. I'm going through this transformation right now & love it. It's so hard to get the daily intake of vegetables and fruit in & this is a really easy way to do it. It's good. It's real good!
 
 
Put time into clean eating, a active lifestyle & drinking A TON of water & you will see results. I'll be posting regularly about my journey & staying accountable. If your interested in making a change in the right direction-I'd love to talk!
 
Also, check out my Pinterest board too, yummy delicious recipes (I've tested first hand) to keep you on the right track.
 
Thanks,

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

A weekend recap.

I really wanted to post these adorable pictures of last weekend before I dive head first into my birthday weekend camping extravaganza! It's our annual camping trip with friends & this year it is really special since our group of friends no longer live in the same city. They've all graduated & spread out across the state for jobs; so continuing to make this trip happen is exciting. It just so happens to always fall on my birthday weekend, the big 2-5 this year!

Last weekend we attended my family reunion & Bryce's cousins high school graduation party, fun times I just had to capture on camera. 

my handsome hubby & beautiful baby girl
her smile is breath taking

water balloon toss

Lining up for kid games

I would adore this picture if it weren't for those dang cones...
or if I could actually edit!

Avery & her Aunt Ka

SO MUCH LAUGHTER

Huge blow up race course at the graduation party
Avery quite possibly went through it 50x

Uncle Devon wins!

water baby


Grandpa & Grandma loving on El

I'm really bummed I didn't get a picture of the graduate. He was off having a blast with his friends!
CONGRATS AGAIN CODY! 

Family pictures.

In early July we had family pictures taken while my brothers family was in town from South Carolina. Which by the way won't be much longer before I get to love on my nieces all the time since there making the move back to the mitten!!! Family pictures are something my parents have wanted to have done for quite some time now. Four little GIRLS plus six adults all looking in the same direction was quite the task. This was not easy, but thankfully we have an awesome photographer. I adore her & her work!










SO MUCH CUTENESS


Friday, August 9, 2013

Traverse City| In pictures.


She's going to be one hell of a Mom one day

There is nothing better than relaxing on an outdoor patio in upper Michigan

Swimming in Lake Michigan


Wine tour

Mitch & Lindsey-pure love!

My best biggest girl out to eat & being her normal crazy self-Exhausting! 


gg & squish

Big smiles!
Go Uncle Devon



Saginaw Old Golds-Vintage baseball




We had a fabulous 4-day getaway in Traverse city. The views were amazing & my mind, body & soul feel refreshed!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Currently.

Currently watching...

  • I'm seriously an ABC fanatic all the way; I'm really into 3 shows right now. Mistresses. Rookie Blue & Motive. Bachelorette just ended so Bryce is thankful he has until January until I start up that Monday night fixation again! 


Currently in Avery's world...

  • She is doing an awesome job at eating lately. As I talked about it in this post, I put my foot down & she is doing a 100% better at having a well balanced diet. She is eating more veggies (usually hidden in my cooking) more protein & fruit, & overall less processed foods. Isn't it ironic how if they eat there meals they need less snacks, who'd a thought?! She is also eating outside our home which is also a big milestone for us. 
  • ABCs & 123s became an interest after I told her she has to know them to go to school. {yes, shes only two} Mind-games people, mind games! 


Currently in Elliana's world...

  • She is nearing 4 months. CRAZY! She's taking a whole new level to breastfeeding. She's so squiggly & smiley; I have to really work to keep her focused & attached for longer than a few minutes, but shes growing like a weed, a big weed! She is sleeping {most nights} great at night, I need to put her in her crib. I need to put her in her crib. I need to put her in her crib. I'm still not ready & I don't know why...
  • Working hard at getting her to take a bottle. This is a full time job.



Currently Focusing on...

  • Trying to NOT snack after dinner. Have not figured this out yet., like not at all. Why can't I say no to food in the PM? I'm really not hungry, its just a habit. A bad habit. Need help in this area, suggestions welcome!
  • Also interested in how I can create an additional income for my family. Work in progress...


Currently giggling at...

  • My current obsession with lactation cookies. I made them once I noticed a dip in my evening supply. They seem to be working, I had to wake up at 4am to pump! They are filled with a decent amount of nutritious ingredients & they're delicious!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

A changing identity.

For many years my identity came from my personality; my friends & family knew me through my actions, my fun & my whit. My husband fell in love with a spontaneous young girl full of life. I was active, rebellious & free. but I've changed. Part of my identity now comes from being a wife & mother. A huge part. It instantly changed the moment I had my first born daughter. I became the housewife who was & still is so set on schedules & order. {My kids thrive on this after all, right?!} The mom who focused on her children far more than her relationship with god & my husband. Part of my identity is hidden in some crevice of earth, its buried in laundry, housework & motherhood. I don't want to stay buried, my kids need me to be full of life, smile & enjoy every moment right along with them, but mainly so does my husband.

We vacationed this weekend with two close friends, deep into the heart of their relationship; their dating & at that phase in their life where life is at ease. We also vacationed with my parents who are at a stage in their life where they are just living each day to the fullest; totally engulfed in their grandchildren & in each other. The love is so strong, its obvious! This deep love surrounding my husband & I seems so young & care-free. The way it was when we met & dated for years.

I've been told that the hardest days of a marriage our the days surrounded by raising young children. It's so easy to get focused on their needs & structured parenting is so important for them. I wouldn't say that our marriage is hurting in any way, shape or form. We love each other entirely, but its a love wrapped around whose changing the next diaper, whose night it is to put the kids to bed & whats the most effective way to discipline a toddler. Our marriage is a bond we will never break. But after this weekend I ask myself  if our marriage is being lived to the fullest? Our we putting our marriage first? We are the most important role models for our children & I want them to feel the love we have for one another because it truly is there.

I'm writing this post mainly for myself. I cannot speak for my husband; I only have control of myself. Our children our young, our journey is still so early on. The beautiful insignificant moments I have with my girls are such an intricate design that makes life worth living. I strive for these little moments of purity & happiness with my children. Yet, I lack the deep reality of what we are teaching them. What my own identity demonstrates to them. How my marriage above all is the base of all meaningful existence. My husband is my rock. We are the foundation of our family. Our love is much stronger & much deeper than we show.

So my identity has changed & maybe that's not all a bad thing. After all, my children are my world. I just want them to grow up feeling the love around them. I want to go on more vacations & relax about the little things. I want to hold hands more with my husband, kiss longer & have deeper conversation. I plan to laugh harder & not hold grudges for as long! That identity I had as a young school girl is still in their, I just choose to bury it in motherhood. It's no longer an excuse & that's a promise!


Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Wordless Wednesday| Saginaw Fair 2013








While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.

~Angela Schwindt


Friday, July 26, 2013

Fit Friday Ramblings.


i'v always been healthy. i've always been into fitness, but i haven't always been fit. i'm 6 weeks into this new lifestyle i'm trying to create for myself & my family & i'm starting to absolutely love it. at about 8 weeks postpartum of baby number two I decided that to ever lose this baby weight this time around i needed to change my lifestyle. diets are for the birds (do birds diet?!) i've never met a happy person on a diet & i know from experience they are just not for me. so i stepped into the realm of clean eating. each day is a new day. i have really great days & awful days. but the key to changing your lifestyle for good is knowing that its okay to fail. just remember to pick yourself back up. clean eating consists of really focusing on no processed foods, more veggies & fruit,  lots of lean protein & water water water. six smaller meals a day, not three huge ones. since my hubby put in the garden this year i'm really embracing the love of fresh produce. i've been gluten free for years now, so staying away from bad carbs i've got in the bag. luckily for my family, i do not cook with bad carbs or gluten very often. i'm really enjoying finding new "clean" recipes on pinterest to cook each night while incorporating fresh veggies. one of my biggest obstacles is portion control. although its generally healthy and light meals, overeating is still my evil. so far with this lifestyle i feel so much better, less bloated & generally a healthier person. there are days i catch myself in the kitchen eating to many processed foods loaded with sugar & i pay for it the next day. my workouts are slower & my intestines are not my friend. yet, the key to this whole process is jumping back on the band wagon the following day.

another key aspect into this lifestyle change is fitness. i always tell people "i've got fitness in the bag, its just the diet that kills me." that may be half true. working out is my addiction. i love it! i've been committed to working out for years: 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year. its easy for me & it helps me stay sane. i even worked out hard through both pregnancies & after. but changing my body has been almost non existent. after having my first daughter the weight fell off & i kept running and occasionally lifting weights at the gym. i enjoyed it thoroughly and i felt good, i thought! then during my second pregnancy i pushed myself even harder then i did during my first pregnancy. i never took days or weeks off. i just reminded myself how important it is to keep fit to have a healthy baby and quick delivery. (this holds true people) but the weight didn't just fall off this go around. although people seem to think its all gone because i'm "skinny" again, does not mean i'm back to my pre-baby weight, because i'm not. my least favorite thing people say to me "you look good for just having a baby" as if you should look unhealthy & entirely a different person after having kids. i don't give into this stigma. yes, your body has changed entirely after growing a human inside you for 9 months, but it does not mean that because your a mom now, your body is now okay to be defined differently. i think that we are what we want to be. you are what you eat, you are what do. if you don't move & eat processed foods, you will feel & look unhealthy. changing your body, before or after you have kids is totally attainable. the dedication and work you put into yourself is important & its up to you.

so to challenge myself i started insanity 6 weeks ago. although my weight has not changed yet, my numbers are slowly changing. reminding myself that the scale does not define me. this is a hard concept for me, but each day i work towards this goal. the goal of understanding that the scale is not an accurate measure of progress. fueling my body with healthy clean food is my ultimate goal, as well as, creating this lifestyle for my family. all while continuing to challenge my physical limits. this all is really exciting & fun for me. i love being committed to this beachbody program & can't wait to try some of the other ones. Have a happy fit friday friends & remember the weekend can kill all your weeks hard work!

Love,

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Update| Sisters.


It's hard to believe this little cutie is 13 weeks old. You will either catch her snoozing away or all smiles & I mean smiles with a capital S. Shes such a happy baby. She's so polar opposite from her sister, since day one! We thought she was a big time sleeper early on because of her early arrival, but that didn't hold true entirely; she still sleeps a ton still. I'm not gonna lie, I love it & I love her personality. After dealing with her big sister, Elliana is easy breezy. Can all my future kids be this good?  Avery was & still is high maintenance. She puked daily, screamed for hours, took months to sleep through the night, never smiled & is still GO GO GO. She's our spitfire, but a damn beauty queen at that. We love our Avery, but she is work. I'm thankful for such a calm baby this second go around. I think someone was looking down on us when they handed us this gift from God. 


So far I am taking things much slower this time. I am not eager to get Elliana out of her room, I am not excited to start solids & I even get anxiety thinking about boxing her itty bitty baby clothes up. Everyone says you parent so differently the second time around & I understand why. After experiencing first hand how quickly 2 years can fly by, I'm just not ready for this little girl to grow up too fast. I was so excited to see Avery develop & each stage was so exciting. It's not that I rushed her to grow up, but I wasn't savoring the little baby she was at all like I am this time. 

Elliana has really started to make developmental strides in the last week. She was defiantly falling behind on the strength of her neck; I mean who wouldn't be, she has neck rolls for days & her head is super heavy. We can thank her daddy for that big noggin. I've been working on tummy time like its my job for 2 weeks straight & the Bumboo is helping her strengthen up those muscles too. Like I said, Elliana is still in our room sleeping in the Newborn lounger. It just seems totally out of the question to put her in her crib yet, breastfeeding is so convenient when they are right by your side. Most nights she is sleeping through the night, but she still has nights she wakes up, so there's my reason. Not that I needed one! She also isn't in love with sleeping flat on her back yet, maybe once she can figure out rolling over she won't mind & the crib is something we can think about.Feeding is also going great. We still are not on a schedule, but I can see one starting to develop. Yet, I know not to get excited. Babies change oh so quickly at this stage. So I'll take it one day at a time &  really enjoy our bond. 

This girl my friends is a full blown Two year old. She's all girly & tough tough tough! Her personality is so up & down. One second she's so much fun, talking up a storm & loving life. The next shes down on the floor hating life. I know it's hard to be Two, so I give her the benefit of the doubt most times. She is working on developing her vocabulary, which I know causes a lot of the problems. She has always been a big drinker for comfort (that really sounds awful, doesn't it?!). She whines for milk/juice often & is currently going through a phase where she doesn't want to eat, anything, ever... So we have put our foot down, which is creating lots of tears. No drink, except water, until you eat your food & all of it. This is tough for her, but we really need to get her nutrition under control now. It's hard for us too to deal with such an unhappy kid,  but I know this should be a quick learning process if we hold our grounds. 

Avery is really making strides in some areas & others she has no interest in. She will now repeat numbers & letters if we make her say them, but she has no desire in really learning them yet. She has been completely potty trained since 20 months (She is currently 26 months old) & had no regression once her big sister came into the picture. This was a huge success on our part; its awesome only having one in diapers. Avery also naps like an all-star. I have not had nap time issues in months (knock on wood). She really needs her naps & I think she knows it too. A huge change is that Avery now lets her daddy put her to bed. Don't ask me what clicked in her little head, but she really loves her dad & I really love the break. We are alternating bed time routines nightly, its awesome!

Avery really loves her baby sister & not a day goes by that she is jealous of her or upset that she's getting more of momma's attention. She is rough with her & we have to watch her closely, but what toddler would you trust by a baby?! These two kiddos are beyond beautiful & are growing like weeds. It's exciting & scary to be a parent of two girls. There is so much stigma & evil in our society & as a parent all we can do is teach our children good morals & self confidence. I mean after all "women rule the world!"

Much Love & Happy Thursday Friends,