United Flight 93

It's making me mad that I haven't posted since the middle of November.

After taking my GFT test I told you I was looking forward to posting more. And I am. I just haven't had the time or energy to do so.

Last month I photographed a beautiful wedding in Pennsylvania for my best friend's sister. It was a short four hour drive with beautifully crafted God-breathed scenery. Beauty, as the understatement here. I described it to some as a "drive through the Chronicles of Narnia" movie.

Snow covered mountains and hills, fir trees dusted in powdery white, and abandoned shacks and shops on the sides of roads are a few things I saw.

If you know me, I love whimsical and dreamy things, so driving through mountainous PA was a bit of a treat.

I literally did not think that this wedding was going to be in the mountains. The  last time I was in the mountains was when I went to Boone, NC to visit a friend from college and drove up the windiest road up a stretch of a literal mountain where her house was nestled in the woods, overlooking lustrous peaks. No, I pictured a rural area with hustle and bustle and normal looking homes. But what I found was space galore, endless trees, and an eeriness that melted my soul.

The events of that weekend were fun and gallivanting to and from location while dabbling in sprinkles of Pennsylvania redneck amidst the journey made things all the more enjoyable.

I will share some pics of the actual wedding here later, or on Facebook. You'll catch me somewhere.

In the mean time, on my way home that weekend, I stopped at one teeny tiny antique shop (among the many there were out there) on the side of the road (pic below), and more significantly, the "United, Flight 93 Memorial." I could not believe my eyes when the memorial site was literally just a right turn away. Could it be?

Of all the vast and wide roads in PA to travel on this landmark happened to fall upon Lincoln Highway, the road I'd spent most of the trip travelling down.

I HAD to stop. And I did. And here are my pics to prove it.

I did NOT however, have time to walk down the path to see the actual, physical, site where the plane crashed (bummer, though in hindsight probably had enough time), but I was at the field and read the memorial signs, and soaked up the surroundings, which likely suffered impact from the actual grounds just yards away.

Breathtaking is the only word that comes to mind, though that doesn't even come close to describing it.

Gone Polar.

A couple of months ago I ordered a Polar Heart Rate Monitor watch. It is wonderful!

 

It's really sad though that I've just gotten around to posting a blog about it. I've been using it at least since August (as you can see from the photo!).

 

I'd been wanting one for a while. When I started working out hard core with Insanity, Insanity Asylum, and running again I realized I wanted something to track my effort and improvements.

 

It's pretty cool - it has a fitness test that shows what category/level of fitness you're in when you first buy the watch so you can know how you fair in comparison to what you should, and potentially work towards improvement if needed or desired.

 

The only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't really have a stop watch per se. It tracks your time when you start a sesh, but doesn't really let you see the timed clock very well. But it's all good - I still like it and favor most of what it displays and how it displays it.

 

One reason in particular I bought it was for calorie counting. I find that most machines don't track calories very accurately, and in addition, the 1,000 calories that people say are burned with Insanity is not really true (at least for me) - though every "body" is different.

 

Anyway - I'm happy with it! I hate having to wet and put the strap on each time, but if I'm doing a hard core training it's worth it.

 

Have a happy Thursday!

 

Google+ and my photos.

It's photo time!

Now that I have more time on my hands (read: early mornings, nap times, and after night night), I have been able to crank through some much awaited and much anticipated things on my to-do list -- organizing and saving my photos, being one of them.

As you know, I take LOTS of photos. Some I keep and some I throw out. But for the most part, I save the majority and grow electronic piles of them that build up for years until I finally get to a point of needing to create a backup.

I used to upload them all to CD Discs and save them that way. In fact, most of my photos are saved that way and stored in a corner cabinet in my house.

But Discs are going out of style, they're old, and they take up space. Not to mention, if I ever lost them I'd be up a creek because they're the only place I have them stored!

Enter: Google+ (and 2013!).

My friend David (Leslie's husband) introduced me to this phenomenon when I visited them in Nashville over the summer. It's not that I was opposed to Google+ as a decent share space, but in my mind, it was just one more thing that I was going to have to "keep up" with.

Facebook is enough. Let alone Twitter (which I don't plug into either, and Instagram, which I haven't even signed up for yet!).

The fact is, I don't really want the entire world to see all my photos (i.e. through Facebook), so I didn't want to use that as a long-term storage space. And while Google+ has this capability I'm sure, as it functions as a social media site, I learned that it has options for album uploads and storage space by the thousands, with privacy options too.

My new bff.

So as we speak, I'm uploading all my albums - only the recent ones on my computer - for new, relevant and current storage that's more idealistic for past, present, and future needs. I will not be uploading the photos I already have stored on CD's, but anything I currently have on my computer will be uploaded to + and stored there. Then, I will eventually delete the photos from my computer so I can have optimum space and it will not be clouded with endless photos.

Google+, I've decided, is a great option for storing photos because you can practically upload as many as you want (including videos), they are housed on the internet (shared or unshared), and easily accessible anywhere. One downside: you cannot access them unless you have an internet connection, which is ultimately fine by me. Everyone has a smartphone nowadays anyway, and they can be probably be pulled up that way.

I just had a thought! I wonder if there's a Google+ app? New search here I come.

Update: I found it! WOO! So awesome. Technology has come such a long way.

In addition, I am also going to be doing a backup (again, just my recent and any future ones) to a flash drive for an extra backup. You never know!

Sidenote: I also just bought a new camera. The Canon Rebel T3i. More to come on that later but I am so excited!

Gotta go see if Levi is up. I've been awake since 5:30 a.m! Not sure if it was the excitement of my new camera, the finishing of my book, or my ever-odd excitement for organizing and getting stuff done but I should probably start the day.

PS - the sun is shining and it's SATURDAY! Yipee!

In my uploading frenzy - here's a photo I just pulled (so easily) from Google+ straight to my blog. Love the efficiency! This photo was taken November of 2012. Keeks and Leaves. :)

Three fall favorites in one.

Hi friends!

Last weekend we spent some awesome family time together and I wanted to share a few photos.

Three of my most favorite fall things are fires, spooky-ness (even though we don't really celebrate Halloween), and pumpkin patches. And last weekend, we did all three.

It's hard for me to admit that I like scary and spooky things because growing up, we were never allowed to get dressed up for Halloween or participate in any kind of parties related. The closest we got to the day's events was "Hallelujah Night" at church and it was always fun. But a part of me always longed to be out on the streets with the other kids doing Halloween in real style...door to door, in a costume, collecting mounds of candy that contribute to teeth-rotting.

When I look back at my memories of this day they are few. It wasn't until I was much older in my teens, that mom and pop were more easygoing about it and minded less if I went out with friends. And by that time, I was too late anyway and I didn't have much of a desire.

I don't feel like any of my childhood memories have been suppressed by the decision they made not to let me go, though. And neither does Isaac. But I do love love love the feelings this time of year brings. I love scary movies (not gory ones, but thrillers, like Joy Ride - have you seen that? Such a great movie for this time of year!) and dazzling Halloween paraphernalia that always catches my eye at Marshall's. There is something about a pretend haunted house and cobwebs that gets me excited about the season's events. And not just Halloween, but fall in general, and Thanksgiving. Leaves. Trees. Boots. And hoodies.

And though I love this eerie and mysterious time of year, Isaac and I have decided that at the moment trick-or-treating will not be on our family event agenda. It's just something we are choosing not to do. And we can celebrate the season in other ways.

So back to last weekend...

We did three things that I always love to enjoy this time of year: a fire pit, a haunted house, and the pumkin patch.

You might say the haunted house is a little the EXACT opposite of not celebrating Halloween. And I don't really have an explanation other than I just like them and wanted to go. I like what I like, I can't help it. And I like being scared (Isaac would just say I'm weird, which I am). It makes me feel cozy and warm inside bundling up to people I love in sheer fright in the Boo Radliest of nights even when my feet are frozen, as they were, on the outside.

Here are some photos of our weekend. It's weird to think that we did all three of these in one. It's a lot! But we did. And I loved it to my very core.

 

This was before going into Cox Farms. Levi was so excited he kept hitting dada in the face! And I caught one on camera!! Hee hee.

 

We visited Cox Farms our friends, Monica and Jimmy, and their two kids Juliet and Noah. Noah was asleep during this photo (he is 7 months). :)

My good friend Monica!

 



The sun was in our eyes!

 



Love to all. Have fun trick-or-treating if that's what you are up to today! Or passing out candy, or whatever you choose. But be blessed above all!

Dinner challenges and more.

Last night Levi and I had the night alone together again. It's just been the two of us all week. Isaac has been working every night. Boy am I going to miss my buddy and I's nights alone together when that ever changes. Though, I must admit, it does call for it's challenges.

The neat thing about our time together is that while I have my moments of sheer uncensored frustration, I am constantly learning. He is constantly teaching me. My son, at two, teaching me.

I won't paint roses for you here of pretty pictures, which would be nice. Instead, I'll tell you that it is all I can do sometimes to get him fed, changed, and into bed before I plop down in utter exhaustion.

TGFMS (thank God for my sisters). We have a constant running chat log on our iPhones that's been ongoing for nearly a year. Need to vent? Type it in. Need confirmation? Put in your request. A laugh? You will find one somewhere lodged in between the 43 messages missed between bath time and story time. Hellooooo personal therapy sesh!

I have a real hard time with dinner time. For one, dinner never seems to get prepared and eaten AT dinner time. And two, I struggle hard with understanding his eating habits. One day, literally half my fridge will be eaten and the next, he merely nibbles. Not to mention the only thing he wants for dinner sometimes is keena (slang for chicken)!

I have realized I beat myself up WAY too much when he doesn't want to eat what I fix. Last night I made al fresco chicken links, sweet potates, and brussel sprouts. I went straight for a bypass on the sprouts because clearly that wasn't happening, but I thought he'd like the links and potatoes. Nope. In fact, he didn't even want to eat at all. Not even green beans that I threw in earlier, which he loves.

I was attempting to feed him dinner on the couch in a special tray while he watched Elmo, but he wasn't eating and he was whining about wanting to watch "the train" (Thomas), so I said forget it and put him in his high chair away from the TV to eat with me without interruptions. Maybe that would help? WRONG!

This only exacerbated the meltdown and we quickly went to time out.

Five minutes later I got him out and decided to just play with him. Perhaps he wasn't hungry? Perhaps indeed.

He just wanted me to play ball with him. "Sit there. No, there mama. There."

"Ok."

We played catch, fall, chase, tickle, and on...until (I think) he worked up a good enough appetite to finally sit down and eat.

While we played, he taught me a lesson. During our time together he did the most precious thing I think I've felt from him to date (aside from the head on the shoulder with a "mama" whisper)...

He said "This is fun!" And ran into my arms and gave me a huge hug.

Heart still melting here.

How silly I am when I stress over the little things like a simple lack of appetite one evening. Or a simple distaste for what I have prepared. I know his taste buds are growing and adapting and changing constantly. It's truly hard to pick out what is a deliberate disregard and a dislike, but we're learning.

And I'm certainly learning that I need to be more open to what the situation needs and how I can be more loving toward him in the process. I think he just needed me, and needed me present.

Every night mostly brings a new challenge, but I'm thankful for the ones that teach me about myself through him.

And with that, I wish you a good weekend. :)

Focusing on the Family

Hi friends. It is Monday evening about 11pm and I am laying on the couch with the TV on in the background. BBT (Big Bang Theory) just finished up - love that show! - and now I've got "Friends" on. Also love.

This is the first time in a while I've felt the freedom to write. Every time I wrote a post over the past several months I felt like I should be doing something else instead. And that something else was studying.

This past Saturday I finally took my ACE GFI (American Council on Exercise, Group Fitness Instructor) certification. And I passed! I can't even believe it. I thought I might have had a chance of passing when I took the practice test and did OK on it. But even then I still missed a lot. I was convinced that I didn't study enough. I really thinking cramming the night before (go college!) did me some good.

So, now I am certified to teach group fitness classes. Woo-hoo!

What do I do now?

I sit on my couch, eat chips, and watch TV. Woo-hoo!

I am sooo relieved not to have anything to study for. I feel like for the past several years I have been studying for something ALL THE TIME (CPT, Teaching, and now this). It is nice to be back in a position where I am not obligated to open a text book at night, write a paper, or look at flash cards.

I miss blogging terribly. And I have gotten so out of it that when I become ecstatic now to do it, I get ready to write and forget how to use my pen. I don't want that.

I remember I came to a point once where I truly felt like a good writer. And I felt like everything I wrote flowed and made sense. I want to get back to that place. And that is my hope.

I'm really excited to be Focusing on the Family too. And not just my family, but the magazine. I have several issues of this free magazine, along with others like All You, Country Living, and People, stock-piled up on my dining room table waiting for me to devour their pages. I can't wait.

But seriously. Focusing on the Family, in every sense of the word.

I subscribed to the magazine a few weeks ago and I get one every few months. It has great articles about family, spouses, kids, coping with all kinds of issues, and much more. Recipes, motivational ideas for children, and lots of other good stuff. I am getting a lot from it and excited to dive deeper into learning the purpose it might bring into our family home front.

And I'm not just Focusing on the Family through my subscription, I am really focusing on the family here, at home.

Now that school and certs are behind me for a looooooooooong while - and hear me, LONG - I am so glad to be able to rest. In Him. In family. In the joy of every day life. Reading and integrating, blogging, exercising, cooking, prepping, and organizing. I am able to really focus on the family instead of trying to multi-focus.

My current read is the soon to be completion of the "Son of Hamas," which reveals the story of a Hamas insider and his discovery to the Truth all while living through secrets and terrorism. It's a little hard to follow, but overall a cool revelation story. I'm looking forward to reading several more books in the months to come that have been sitting on my bookshelf calling my name!

I am so grateful for all the opportunities in my recent past. I'm grateful for my continuing education, for the licenses obtained in my direct line of passion, and the ability to use them in ways that God leads me.

A Fall and Apples Pre-Post

I really should be sleeping, but I can't. I've just had the freshest breath of fall this evening and my mind is lingering on it.

The weather this season has screamed nothing but autumn and I could not be happier. We straight up deserve it for the crappy summer we had! Was it spring? Was it fall? Was it April all over again with the downpour of rain? No one will really ever know, but my heart is surely glad that's all over. I love summer, but that was ridiculous.

Levi had a blast tonight at Al's Honor System. Carrie and I made that name up (minus the Al part) - you see, a man by the name of Al sells seasonal items at a house on the corner of a lovely street in Warrenton (right near my sister's place). I got a basket of gourds, 3 pumpkins, a single bigger gourd, and a basket of apples for $20. I think that's good, right? Well, it doesn't really matter because the smell of the apples resonating with fumes of "Nanny's porch" all over them had me in heaven. Thanks Carrie for the throwback!

Nanny always had apples on her porch. Apples upon apples upon apples in those white little bags with handles on them. Where did she get them? I'm guessing they were probably from "the valley." The aromas bring me back to that porch where her comfortable arm chairs rested in front of her old timey TV (the kind with those old knobs you actually had to get up and TURN). Now we push a button from the couch. And soon I hear we'll be able to wave our hand and pause a channel (Samsung?)?

Anyway, I am loving fall this year. And as with every year, we've got mounds of birthdays followed by a handful of holidays that I just adore. This also means baking, pumpkin patches, hoodies, and TV shows that make me happy!

And also this fall is the Bible Study with the moms from church. More to come on that later, and another post with some fall pictures with an update on our adventures this week.

Talk to you soon!

Here we go again.

It's 11:53 p.m. on Sunday night and I am not ready for work tomorrow. Is anyone else out there feeling my pain?

You know how it is.

Isaac is asleep and I'm lounging in the sunroom with "You, Me, and Dupree" on the tube. I will probably hit the sack here shortly.

Last night we watched "World War Z." I wish we had saved it for October. Although we don't really celebrate Halloween, I still like haunted houses and spooky, chilling things. Is that weird? It would have made me feel more seasonal watching it next month. Still, we had the window open and I was curled up in a blanket anyway. It felt cozy.

I'm getting more and more excited for fall and the weeks that ensue in the midst of autumn. Leaves have already started gathering around our porch and non-garden, garden bed. I bought a new wreath and a couple of mums for the front of the house. I enjoy decorating the outside but the problem is the $$. It is expensive!

I'm looking at two baskets of laundry across from me, folded, and wondering if they will get put away tomorrow. I'm also wondering if the bed will get made.

Isaac works all week. The early shift, to be exact. Which means longer hours for Mimi. more sleep for him, and a full week of solo mommy duty every night for me.

Levi and I are going to make an effort to get up to the "Honor System" this week after work. The Honor System is a little house on a street corner in Warrenton that sells produce and seasonal things. The reason it's called such is that the owner (Al?) is never there. You pick your items and leave the money in the door slot. I love the country! Who knows if we'll make it though. I've been soooo tired since my coworker went on maternity leave and I've been covering a large portion of her work.

We may be looking at a few chic-fil-a nights this week, too.

I went to church by myself this morning. Isaac stayed home with Levi. He wanted to relax and take it easy - we do go all the time. I had nursery duty so I really couldn't miss. I am thankful for nursery duty. It reminds me of how precious children are and how dearly I love them. They are treasured jewels.

And I'm just gonna point out...I often complain about my busy schedule with working full-time and raising a child too, but I give props to those mamas raising 5 kids and homeschooling. The Lord bless them - whew! The mothers picking them up always have smiles on their faces and lights in their eyes for their babies.

I'd better go to bed. It's 12:06 and I have to get up early to study. At least Peet's coffee awaits me!!

Ciao.

A clean slate.

Good morning all you blog lovers out there. Today is a new day and I am so happy about it.

I am so grateful that the sun rises every morning with a fresh start from our Father.

This morning as I write, I have just finished up the first chapter in "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl," by Lysa TurKeurst. I am already blessed.

Maybe it is the sun that is shining ever so brightly this morning into my sunroom, or the trees blowing in the wind and the sounds and feel of it coming in through my open-screened window, or my time alone in the quiet. I am not sure. But I am feeling of a renewed spirit today as I look at all that God has done for me - and how little I acknowledge it!

In all honesty, I haven't been too excited to read this book because "I don't have time." I'm a full-time working mom with a toddler studying for another certification and I "can't fit it into my schedule."

The book accompanies a Bible Study my pastor's wife is hosting for mothers of young children and it's every other Wednesday night this fall - again, where will I find time to fit this in?

The truth is, time is limited. My time is limited. I don't have a lot of it, and what I do have, I cherish.

But I am so glad I picked up this book, signed on for the Bible Study, and will be making a valiant effort to go on the nights that Isaac is home. I need it. And I think I just discovered through the first chapter that my soul needs it.

I am only one chapter in, but it already has reminded me of what is lacking in my walk with the Father, and that is devotion.

I usually read a chapter from the Bible every morning, a Psalm per day, for example. Or right now, I am on Job...more thoughts lingered: how will I fit this book reading in with having to keep up with bible time and studying early in the morning before I go to work?

Then it hit me: replace the chapter a day with reading your book. I don't like doing this because "they say" you need devotion time in the Word every day, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

Hopefully I can keep this pattern up and still stay on track, but I'm liking the idea of using that as my time to get the reading in, so far. I don't spend as much devotion time with my Father as I should, if I'm being truthful, and I am looking forward to what this book will bring.

Back to the clean slate and fresh start: I forgot about this.

This week at work has been a little tough. I've had some encounters I wished I hadn't, thought some things I shouldn't, and done some things I've regretted. This pattern repeats every week! I am a sinner by day, failure by afternoon, and repenter by night! Each-and-every-day.

But I am so thankful that he restores me each-and-every-day.

God is so good.

It has recently occurred to me that in my "old age" (LOL) I am able to stomach things better and learn to live with others' hurtful words too. Through the years my confidence in myself and in Christ has become stronger and the need to impress others around me or try to be someone I am not has diminished.

This week, I received a couple doses of challenging situations where I had the opportunity to lash out in hate and anger, seeking apology for my wounds, or to turn the other cheek.

It is hard to turn the other cheek, I must say, when the scar from the battered cheek is deep, but I can only wonder what would have happened if I went with an impulsive nature and tried to justify the situation with rebuttle.

To this, I shout, thank you Father for healing me inside before acting on the desirous need for someone else to heal me on the outside!

So, clean slate, what are you?

In my opinion, a clean slate is the chance to every day begin anew the Life intended.

This means, putting behind the mistakes, failures, disappointments, and hurts, and moving forward in grace, forgiveness, and Truth on the path He desired for you.

I will be the first to tell you that forgiveness is fragile, but it is only a heart beat away if you let Him in. And not just forgiveness to others, but forgiveness from others.

I admit it's easier to write about a clean slate when the sun is shining and the world is at your shopping fingertips later this afternoon (woot!), but I'm being serious when I say that to each new day there is a new morning. Joy comes in the morning. And friends, each new day is yours.

Pandora 90s Pop.

My heart never knew such bliss.

I made an commitment to myself in 2009 not to listen to secular music except when exercising (or developing a fitness routine). I pretty much have stuck to that commitment - though I do intersperse Country music as my "treat" (lately it's become more of a regular than a treat though - I love country music!).

Occassionally, I will pop in a secular CD while I'm driving home from work - i.e. Justin Timberlake or Mario. Nerd! Because some days I just need a pop in my step and this does the trick. I have been doing it more lately though, or just not listening to music at all, because I'm sick of everything! I'm kind of sick of Christian "positive hits" music, to be honest.

I love worhip music and I love artists like David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, and Britt Nicole. But some days I really can't stand the repeats and slow tempos.

Then I met Pandora.

I'm sure I'm behind in "discovering" this. I've known about it for a few years now, but really started opening the doors to it these past few months.

My current new fetish is the 90s pop station. It brings me back, yo. Back to the 90s, to high school, to my messy room with the candles and odd red lamp hanging from the wall where I danced for hours to Real McCoy, Hanson, and Ace of Base.

Currently playing as I write? Boyz II Men, Motownphilly. Helloooo 8th grade skate rink?!

What I love about it is the variety of songs and how it morphs my brain to nostalgia of old. Camping trips witih friends when I thought I was cool with my pager (remember those?!), proms, cheerleading and softball practices, and bus rides. Don't get me wrong, the jams are repeititve too, especially when it comes to Lisa Loeb, Counting Crows, and The Cardigans, but I cannot help my state of euphoric reminisce when I hear them play.

For some reason, I can justify this station, this music, more than I can listening to the [mostly] junk on 99.5 and others. Though I gotta give it up to Macklemore. Straight perfect workout beats!

Songs today are so trashy. And I can't believe people can get away with singing - or talking - what they do. In today's day and age, especially, I'm finding myself having to be extra careful with my son too. The cover of one Rihanna's latest album, Unapologetic, has her bare naked boobs on it covered up by her elbow and some text, which is currently on my husband's iPad that he plays with. Thank God for password protection so we can monitor what he does. What is this world coming to? Honestly...

I heart Christian music, but I also enjoy upbeat pop for workouts, and my 90s pop for a good throwback. It is what it is. My gut's in check and God is my King.

Getting our groove on.

This morning it is raining. I am sitting here with Levi and we are watching Elmo and waiting for dada to get up. He took the day off - I was so excited! It was a total surprise. I love it when he does that.

I'm not sure what we're planning to do today. For starters, we'll probably get Levi's hair cut (though I do not want to, but I will admit he needs a slight trim).

I really hate when you have a whole day to do anything you want and it RAINS. It seems like rain is all we have seen this summer.

I've been recording a lot of movies lately. "Just Friends, Just Married, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," and one of my favorites, "Something Borrowed." One of my favorite things to do at night after Levi goes to bed is grab a glass of wine and relax on the couch with a good movie. I've usually seen them all, but no matter how much I watch them I can never get enough.

The chapter I'm just finishing up in my GFI studies is on Pregnancy and Exercise. It's amazing how seasons in your life come in clusters and everything becomes relative to eachother. Right now, I have a lot of either a) friends trying to get pregnant, b) friends who are pregnant, or c) friends who just had a baby. So it's funny to be reading about pregnancy and exercise and learning the pros, cons, and contraindications. I love pregnancy (though I hated peeing literally every 5 mins) and think it is one of the most amazing things in the world.

I'm learning a lot. But I have to admit that reading my book is not the first thing I want to do when Levi goes down for his nap.

Usually when Levi goes down for his nap (and I'm home on a weekday or weekend) the first thing I'll do is get my workout in. I go for a bout 30-40 mins. Since the weather's been nice, and particularly in the summer, I will work out in the garage. I love having a garage for this reason. It makes for dirty hands when I'm doing pushups or something of that sort, but it's a perfect space to indulge.

After my workout if he's still asleep, I will usually come in and read and study my GFI book for about an hour or so. And by the time I'm finished cooling down, eating an orange (standard post-workout snack!), and reading he's awake.

This age that we are at with him has really been the perfect stage for me to be able to become more strategic with accomplishments, plans, and getting organized. Since our daily routines are so structured at this point - though I must admit nap times and bed times get screwy - success in these areas has been more prominent throughout our daily living.

For example, I'm able to get laundry folded during Elmo time, or write this blog. In the past, I'd have to wait until he was down for a nap because I'd be chasing him while he crawled on the floor. And while it may still be hard since he pulls me to "go" everywhere, I can finally come to a point now where I say, "No, mommy is busy, let me finish and I'll go with you in a minute."

Or, for another example, while he's eating his breakfast I can now plan meals, get meals prepped, work on a grocery list, or unload the dishwasher.

While he is the epitome of a normal toddler at least these more structured times allow me to be more strategic and organized in my planning with things around the house. They give me time to get things done without feeling like I'm always "missing out" on something new he did or learned.

This is a common pose during TV time.

I also just scored these two chairs at a yard sale yesterday for his table where he colors. Now he can eat snacks and lunch there so he doesn't always have to sit in the high chair. It truly is a pleasure to see him walk through all these phases of learning and discovering life and new stages - by the way that pose only lasted for a second until he was off to something else! LOL.

 

One thing I love about him right now is that he loves loves loooooves to dance, sing, and play "songs." I'm really trying to let him discover that as much as possible because I don't know how long it will last or whenhis carefree spirit about dancing all the time will end. I hope it never does!

It's crazy how once you have a child you want everything for them to just be as happy as they are and never change. And that all you could ever ask for is the best for them.

And that is where I think faith in the Lord steps in!

On that "note" I'm hoping Isaac gets up soon or I'm going for another cup of coffee...

PS - I am making Chicken Scallopini tonight. Yum!

Talk soon friends!

Our ever-brewing summer and a gentle reminder.

July ended with our annual yard sale. While it was fun, it unfortunately did not go as well as planned so we are having a "redo" on August 31st at mom's house. (If you know anyone who needs clothes, we have a bunch.)

Mimi was here to visit for several weeks and left earlier this month. As always, she and Levi had a blast playing together.

 We bought Levi a training potty (Elmo, of course) and have been moving in the direction of trying to get him to use it.

 

We've also been trying to get him to use a spoon. It's makes for a big cleanup job afterwards!

 

I've been having fun around the house. I changed up some picture frames and have been looking for specific bedroom decor.

In relation to fitness, I have been feeling better than ever! Though I have been having a lull over the past week. It's those moments where you're tired and sore, but you know you have to keep pushing through...

I forgot my sports bra at work today and was annoyed! So the girls and I went to Milwaukee Custard instead. LOL. ... I have been working to create nutrition plans for friends and family. I created one for a friend at work who wants to lose some weight and eat healthier. We are going to get her measurements today and start tracking progress. I'm hoping it goes well. I'm also going to be working on one for a family member. I'm not an expert at all, but I do feel like I've learned a lot and gained a lot of knowledge over the past year about eating habits, healthy foods, and nutrition. I've also been steadily developing fitness workouts for my co-workers and I to do at lunch. It's been a blast leading them. It's hard for me to separate friendship vs. "coach" mode - I think it'll be easier when I teach fo-real fo-real classes on my own. Oh yeah, I'm studying for my Group Trainer Certification :). My test is in October. I'm quite nervous. I've heard it's hard.

I also detoxed twice. Pee central!

We went to Signal Hill Park pool a week or so ago. It was fun but a bit windy. Levi was shivering!

 

I took Levi to lunch with Gramie (i.e. Maxine) on Sunday. He started actually calling her Gramie! Time has flown.



And I got a hankering to bake a bunch this past weekend (mostly for snacks to have on hand). I made bluebery muffins...

 

Cheesy Egg and Spinach Muffins. I subbed broccoli for spinach and added onion and peppers.

 

 

And made peanut butter hershey kiss cookies. A little bready, but still good!

 

We've been playing outside some.

And baths are more frequent in the summer as a result. 

 

Love this muffin of mine.

 

 

 

Oh and my sweet friend Leslie had her first baby! 

 

 

I wanted to end this post by telling you that I'm so overwhelmed by God's grace. Particularly in moments, circumstances and ways I least expect it.

Ocassionally Often I get frustrated with Levi when he doesn't listen to me. Beginnings of disobedience and ignoring us from instruction has started. He is still a pretty good boy and I can already see lots of manners underway and adherence to our direction, but I also see him taking his freedom into consideration when we ask him to do something.

When I was giving him a bath last night I asked him to stand up so I could wash him and when I tried to help him up to do so he curled his legs so that they would not rest on the floor like I needed them to. I got frustrated saying "Stand UP!" I said this a few times until I finally let it go and set him back down.

Afterward, I was mad at myself for getting mad! I felt it and I knew inside there was a gentler way I could have handled it.

Immediately following my setting him back in the tub he took his hand and shook it up and down in a manner as if it to say "calm down mom!" and has he did this he repeated "Ok? Ok? Ok?" looking right at me.

It was in a such an innocent and sweet manner that I could hardly stand his sweet face. Rather than getting scared, or fearful, or worried about my temper he simply gestured me to "calm down mom. ok?" At least that's how I interpreted it.

What a word from the Lord for me in that moment. Levi's purity and calm reserve in that moment was a signaled whisper from the Lord teaching me that even through little eyes and mouths His voice can be heard.

I'm so thankful for my family and for the humility and light I already see in my son! I think he gets it from his dada. :)

Later this month we'll be going to a Redskin's game (thanks Mimi for watching Levi!) and I am going to try my hand (hopefully) at a peach cobbler (compliments of Nonny and Big's peach tree).

Talk to you soon!