Fitness -- the beginning of the end

Sometimes fitness and health is such a boring topic.
I'm almost hesitant to add these lame "health updates" to my blog because this isn't that kind of blog.
But since I started it I'll continue until I decide I don't want to anymore. Maybe next time I'll create an actual fitness/ health blog and do it completely separately.
This may actually be the last update for awhile.

I'm quite happy to say that I've worked hard enough to say that I am happy with where I'm at, for the most part. I've lost about 20 inches on my accumulative body measurements since July. I've lost about 10 pounds (give or take a little) since July, 30 lbs since having AddiLyn.
My before and after pictures are different, in a good way.
I can't say I'm 100% satisfied with where I'm at, there is always room for improvement... like getting a six pack. Which is currently what I'm working on.
Stop judging me, I can dream can't I?
 Ryan and I have been working out together and we're currently doing a "30 day to a 6 pack" workout regimen.
Our diet has been pretty good, except for the weekends (you gotta live a little, seriously) but I'm pretty sure to get a 6 pack I'd have to really lean out more, and be way more committed to a strict daily diet. SOOOOO let's just say I'm not holding my breath waiting for those abs to show.

My failure attempt at a "swelfie"... or, by definition, swole selfie.

 Fail. Fail. Fail. 

Anyways, I don't think I'd be motivated to go to the gym on a daily basis if my girls didn't love it so much. They both love going to the child care. Emma always colors pretty pictures and is so excited to show me each time. AddiLyn seems to be happy when being dropped off and every time I peek in on her she's zoned in on some new toy.

It really adds variety to our day.

 And then of course they love the play time they get after we're done working out. Emma runs around the basketball or the racquetball courts and AddiLyn loves pummeling the volleyballs. 

I remember when I first had Emma and I started working out, I remember how horribly guilty I'd feel. I felt guilty that I was focusing time and energy on myself when I felt I should be focusing all my time and energy on my baby.

And it would be a lie to say that even now I don't feel guilty sometimes about leaving my girls for a while to focus on myself.

However, I'm beginning to realize that a little me-time isn't something to slit my wrists over. 

Personally, I'm a better mom when I get some alone time. As little as 20 minutes even and I'm good. I'm a better mom when I feel healthy and keep active.

To be a good mom I need this in my life. 

And I'm not saying that if you don't workout your a bad mom, I'm just saying that in my life, it's good.

Ryan and I have never really worked out together, and I have to say, it is one of the best things ever. We lift weights together and then separate and do our own thing for cardio. It's been good for us as a team. We've been able to support each other with our separate goals, and Ryan keeps me from looking like a fool in the weight room!

So I guess in a way, this whole health/fitness venture has incorporated our whole family in a positive way rather than just me. But I still get my me-time. We all win!

THE END.

The highlight of this week

When the sun is shining, you go outside and play!
That's the rule at our house.
AddiLyn is getting to the point where she can do some things with Emma at the park. Like slide on the baby slides, swing, crawl around on some of the smaller toys.
It's so much fun to see these two girls grow and learn to love each other and play together.

That's the highlight of my week.

This week has been hard. 

 Sometimes I read my old blog posts and I'm like dang I've got such a happy life! And I do. I'm happier than I've ever been, like ever.

But life still has it's ups and downs. I focus on the good things on my blog, because I don't want people reading complaints and thinking I'm not happy with my life.

But at this moment I want to complain, so either bear with me or go read your scriptures and become uplifted...

My life is good but then there are days that I'm like...

I have no idea what I'm doing, like 95% of the time. I have no idea how to be a mom, especially to my 2 year old going on 13 year old. 

I've become so detrimentally and socially impaired in my 3 years of being a mom. I used to pride myself in my uncanny ability to start and keep a fun conversation going. But these days I can't even form proper words let alone a proper sentence. It's like child birth broke my translator, the words in my brain get scrambled and broken before they come out of my mouth.

I'm stuck in a rut in so many aspects. 

Who am I really? 

Where am I going?

What should I do with my career?

Am I a good mom?

Am I messing up my kids?

What am I doing wrong?

What's wrong with me. 

I ask myself these questions all the time, with no answers in sight. 

No answers.

I need a life coach.

Any volunteers?

No?

That's what I figured.

So I just keep plunking along, trying my best to be a good wife and mom and I focus on the beautiful moments that go along with it. All while trying to ignore the embarrassing blurbs I create that fill in the rest of my existence.

Maybe someday I'll work on the endless questions and worries when I'm old and wise. 

Maybe at that time I'll know what to do. 

But for now, I'll just play with my kids and take pictures while they're happy so maybe someday I'll be able to look back and know I wasn't a complete failure in this beautiful mess I'm living.

Our head board; nailed together with love

 I've been trying to make our house pretty... without spending money.
It's one of the hardest tasks I've ever given myself, and I've done some pretty hard things!
Well, it's not pretty yet. But it's slowly getting there.

The master bedroom has taken the longest to show any progress. It's definitely the most neglected room of the house.  I focus most of my decorating on our living room and the girls room, because it's more in the open and it's more fun decorating cute little girls rooms!

But Ryan pitched the idea that we build a headboard together.
So I posted an ISO pallets post on Facebook and got a bunch for free.
Then we, and when I say we I mean Ryan, pulled the boards off and we put together this shabby-chic headboard. Nailed it together, stained it with leftover stain we had from our table, and put it up.

 The most expensive part was the plain wreath that I bought at Walmart, which I spruced up with bright happy looking flowers.. Which added up to almost $10. The lights are one of those plastic tube Christmas lights that we never used for Christmas decor.

It's simple, and not exactly breath taking when you see it, but it's cute... It suits us.
We're not the most sophisticated, ritzy people. We're a little rough around the edges, but we've got our redeeming qualities once you look past the rough exterior......HA. Just kidding. That was a stupid analogy. But in my mind it sounded deep and eloquent.
Anyways, here's the finished product! It'll do for now. Once we get rich and famous maybe we'll spend tons of money on home decor.
But probably not.

9 months of AddiLyn

Our sweet little wild flower is 9 months! Oh the happiness and joy she brings to my heart and soul. She's such a happy, feisty little girl! 

Weight: 18 lbs 50%

Height: 28.75 in 70%

Miss AddiLyn Mae is such an easy baby during the day. During the night she tends to be a little more difficult (waking up every 2 hours, if not sooner) , however, I talked to her doctor about it and she suggested I supplement her feedings with formula during the day. 

She's never been the best at taking a bottle, so we tried waiting to feed the formula to her until she was super hungry and she gulps it right down and then nurses. We do that 3 times a day plus solids. Well, lo and behold-She is suddenly sleeping through the night! 

I guess she just wasn't quite getting what she needed during the day, even though I was nursing her every 3 hours and giving her solids and snacks. It makes me feel kind of bad knowing she was crying all those nights because she was hungry. I'm glad we didn't do the cry it out method. If I'd been doing that and then found all this out on top of that I'd feel horrible!! At least we were suffering together :)

Things my sweet girl can do.

• scoots backwards and rolls. Can go from laying on her stomach to sitting up. 

• loves bubble baths and showers

• has 5 teeth

• smiles all the time, but rarely laughs

•loves being outside

• has strong twiggy chicken legs, is wary of standing up. 

• if Emma takes something from her AddiLyn goes after her with a vengeance. It's kind of cute but I pretend that it's naughty so Emma doesn't feel sad about it or think it's okay to be overly aggressive.

• she's a biter. She bites Emma and makes her cry on a daily basis. At least twice a day. Poor Emma gets roughed up by little Addi.

• AddiLyn absolutely adores her daddy. She's a total daddy's girl. 

• she's never been shy. I keep waiting for her to start getting scared of strangers but she never ceases to love on absolute strangers, smiling at them and stretching her arms out to random people to be held. She is very social and makes everyone feel special and loved. As long as she's not tired or hungry

• she loves to be read to and loves it when I sing to her.

She's such a special little girl, I adore her with all my heart! 9 months of sleepless nights and joyous, happy days! 

I love my AddiLyn Mae!!!!!

Oh and she hates getting dirty!