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Final Fit for Me 52/52

I can’t believe I have been recording my workouts for a year! (Never mind that I forgot to post last week because of Christmas. It was the only week I missed though!)

When I started this fitness journey, it was an attempt to make my body feel like mine again. After giving birth, I felt like I had lost control of my own health while focusing on George. By logging my workouts, I really wanted to make sure that I was making my fitness a priority again.

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So what did I learn over the last 52 weeks?

  • I need to be training for something to really kick my butt into gear. I don’t do well without a plan. I definitely worked out more when I knew I needed to get so many runs in a week. This past month I started training for a race with no race actually in mind, and it makes such a difference with my progress.
  • I don’t have to have a gym to be successful. I loved our gym in Iowa, and it made me think that I had to have a gym for consistency. I have struggled with working out over the last 2 years partially because of it. Unfortunately, when we moved into our house here the gym was not a good investment since it was a half hour away. I have been able to actually keep up with workouts just as much if not more since cutting the cord with our membership.
  • On the same note, sometimes I have to get creative to make a workout happen. I did workouts while wearing George in a baby carrier, and there were a couple times that I ran in circles in my kitchen and living room. You have to make it work. Also the internet is an amazing thing, and there are so many videos and apps now that you can use. I highly recommend SWORKIT if you have an Android.

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  • I fall off the wagon right after a race and when I am sick. So I just need to be cognizant of those times and find some motivation besides feeling sluggish to get back out there. I also don’t work out when I travel. I always have the best intentions and pack workout stuff, but my schedule when traveling never seems to allow it. So I need to remember little things that I can do like squats and lunges.
  • Your happiness is not related to a number on a scale or tape measure. I was keeping track of my weight and measurements the first couple months, and it was miserable. I was miserable. I don’t do well with that type of motivation. I have never been someone to watch the numbers on the scale, and this was the first time that I really felt awful about the way that my body looked and felt so having that there was very harmful. I decided t0 focus on how I felt in my clothes and energy levels as my motivation instead of trying to be a certain number and hating myself because I wasn’t. I find this makes me a lot happier when I focus on my health instead of my weight.
  • I have to make working out a priority. No one else will make it one if I don’t. I had to take charge and demand this time for myself. Some would say it was selfish to pick George up a little later a couple days a week or to insist that I worked out while George napped instead of doing the laundry or dishes that have inevitably backed up. It was something I needed to do though. Having that me time to better myself, I think makes me a better mom, wife, person in general. I am a person that needs time to recharge, and working out has those elements for me. Plus if I am sick all the time from not taking care of my health, how am I supposed to take care of anyone? I had to be ok to ask others for help so I can take 30 minutes here and there. Luckily Tom is on board with the fitness train, so having him help me do this was a no brainer for him.
  • Every workout doesn’t have to be perfect or an hour long. Most of my workouts are only a half hour, and that is ok. I am still making things happen in that amount of time. There were also many workouts where George came along or climbed over me as I attempted a yoga pose. Again, the workout still happened even if I didn’t meet a PR. I showed up and that is what matters.
  • These pants are motivating. There is something about crazy neon patterns that makes me want to work out when I put them on.
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  • All in all, my body is amazing. There were some down moments the past year where I thought my body failed me. However doing this challenge kept me pushing through each week and helped me focus on the positives. I am a lot stronger than I thought, and I did things like PR on a 10K as a thirty-year-old mom. I carry a 25 pound kid around and do things one handed all day every day. I just needed to give myself some grace and know that my body will do what God has willed it to do.

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I am really glad that I did this. It pushed me out of my comfort zone to think about things differently with my fitness. It also brought me back to workouts a lot quicker than I would have had I not been logging it publicly. I won’t be doing this again on the blog just because it was a lot to keep up with each week. However, I am going to do a monthly thing though because I do like the accountability. It is going to take on a different form, but logging it does help.

My fitness goals for 2016 are:

  • Work out at least twice a week with the aim of getting in three workouts.
  • Run at least two races, with one being a 10K.
  • Get a bike to obviously ride it. We have some great trails near us, and a bike would be great to change up my workouts.
  • Keep creating an active lifestyle with my family. Now that we don’t have a move looming over our heads, I am hoping to do some more active things in the upcoming year. Like playing ball/chase in our yard, going on hikes, taking George to swim lessons and more.

What are your fitness goals for 2016? Have you ever logged your workouts?

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A Special Talks With Tom

This weekend is Tom’s 31st birthday, and I normally have a post devoted to him because that’s what every man in his 30s wants right?

Anyway, I thought I would do something a little different this year. I am going to turn the tables and have the post write itself, but I need your help.

So here is an open invitation to ask Tom any question that you would like. A raw version of Talks with Tom.

You can ask about parenthood, his job as a police officer, our dogs, working out, his handyman skills, really anything.

Maybe you will get some responses like this line from my about to be 31 year old husband.

“George is completely homemade. We just used juices and eggs we had around the house.”

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So what do you want to know about Tom or want to hear from his perspective?

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George-16 Months

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Weight: He is just over 25 lbs.

Health:  This kid and teething. Seriously, they are just barreling in. He has 12 so far, 6 on top and another 6 on the bottom. He also has four cutting right now. FOUR. The last couple weeks he has been alright mood wise, but his nose is basically a leaky faucet. He has also had a really bad cough the last week working through this round of teeth.

Diet: Not much has changed the last two months. He eats what we eat for the most part. There aren’t many vegetables that he will eat, so he gets at least one squeeze pouch a day as a snack to make sure he is at least getting some veggies each day. He has started eating meat more regularly which is good. Carbs are still his favorite. He still will change his mind on how and what he will eat at any given moment. He will always eat oatmeal, rolls, and bananas. He actually will eat a banana like an adult by holding the peel now!

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Clothes:  This little dude grew this last month! He is basically in 18 month clothes. They are a little baggy, but he is way too big for 12 months, and there aren’t a lot of 12-18 months clothes out there. He also sized up in diapers and shoes, both size 5.

Sleeping:  Things have been so different this last month! He is sleeping through the night again-Thank the Lord! And when he does wake up, he usually can talk himself back to sleep. Yes talk himself back-we may have a sleep talker. Last month, I thought he was having night terrors because he would wake up with a bloodcurdling scream and couldn’t go back to sleep. I felt like we were back in the newborn stage. Thankfully that only lasted a couple weeks. We have been phasing out the second nap. It has been an adjustment though because he wants to now take a 2-3 hour nap right over lunch time. We’ll work it out, but I have noticed such a huge difference in his bedtime sleeping. He now sleeps from 8pm-7am. On the weekends he has even slept until 8 (one time 9am)! Sleeping in has never been sweeter.

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Likes: He loves the Tupperware cabinet and taking all of the Tupperware out. He is really into putting lids on things now, so the Tupperware has been fun for him. He loves heights and climbing. Now that he has figured it out, he wants to climb everything. This stage is absolutely terrifying because he is not afraid of anything. I am just waiting for the day where he can climb out of his crib. I am having a panic attack thinking about that. He loves to read, play with legos, dog toys, getting into boxes/baskets, and throwing things. He is also really into pointing to things. He loves to make anything a scarf, but particularly loves putting our belts around his neck like a necklace. He still really loves brooms or anything in stick fashion. He got a little swifter for Christmas, and I am fairly positive he would sleep with it if we let him. He loves Christmas lights and trying to plug them in on his own. He also loves putting things in the fireplace. the other day I found it stuffed with Tupperware.

Dislikes: He does not like to be told no. He doesn’t want to take pictures at all. He doesn’t like when I take him off the couch where he has so proudly climbed and now wants to face dive off of. He hates PDA, so we don’t get kisses or holding hands at all. Hugs are very few as well unless he is super tired.

Milestones: He is “talking” a lot, but not many new real words. He did add night night and uh oh to his repertoire. Mostly, he just repeats the main syllable, like right now he is really into Bs. George now will go brush his teeth when I ask. I don’t know how this happened because a few weeks ago he acted like it was torture. He did have his first dentist appointment. He enjoyed his first Christmas tree. We are working on using silverware. Some days it goes well, and others it is a hot mess. He claps and waves bye bye more regularly now with the right timing too. He gets the concept of drawing and holding a pencil. We got some chunky crayons for Christmas so we are going to do a lot more with this development now.

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Quirks: He has this evil chuckle when you tell him no, which basically means he is going to do it anyway. He sits in the middle of the kitchen when I get his bottle ready or get a squeeze pouch out. He will even sit when I tell him too, like he is a dog. He crawls into our laps and actually will sit really nicely. This is really the only cuddling he will do.  When I sing him to sleep he grabs my neck and presses his forehead against my chin and giggles while I attempt to sing like that.

We parents are:  We have really enjoyed the last two months with day and midnight shifts for Tom. It has been busy with the holidays, but we have gotten a little more family time. Tom has also been working like crazy to fix up the living space in our basement.

The dogs are: now 5! George and the dogs get along so well. George is now petting them a lot more gently, which is a huge step up from the smacking and intense grabbing that was happening. The dogs enjoy that he is an endless supply of goodies between the spilled milk and food thrown everywhere.

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This little man just warms my heart. He is growing so much and so fast!

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Pups Birthday!

These little nuggets are FIVE today.

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We have had Grace most of her life since we got her as a pup, and Crosby for the past two years. And I just don’t really remember what we did without them.

They were our first children, and we spoil them rotten. (Like buying a house mainly because it came with it’s own dog park.)

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So here is my ode to you Grace and Crosby, and five reason why I just love you to pieces.

  • You are the best cuddlers, even though you hog the bed, and forget that you weigh 75 pounds when you lay on us. The way you nuzzle in to be close to us is too cute for words. And it is amazing with how big you are how you can maneuver yourself into the smallest crannies. (Grace likes to worm herself between Tom and I when there is no apparent space between us on the couch or bed. She just makes us sandwich her.)

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  • You are the best guard dogs. Since we spend a lot of nights alone, I definitely feel more at ease knowing you are here with us. And you make sure that no squirrel, cat, bunny, human, or other living things step into our yard without your presence being known.

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  • You two are the perfect vacuum cleaners. Whenever George (or us adults) makes a mess, you two are right there to clean it up.
  • You are so forgiving. There are days that we may leave you alone too long, or we pay more attention to George than you, but you always are willing to forget and love us anyway.

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  • You are the best big siblings to George. You put up with his crawling and bouncing on you. You don’t get mean when he takes your bones for the millionth time. You just love on him like you love on us.

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Happy Birthday Grace and Crosby!

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Here’s to more shenanigans this year!

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It’s Ok That I Am Not “That” Mom

With all the pictures, movies, Pinterest pins, it is really easy to feel like you aren’t doing enough this time of year. It’s easy to feel like you are doing Christmas wrong if you don’t have the perfect tree with all the handmade ornaments or desserts in the shape of Santa hats.

Yes I want the holidays to be magical for George, but I also think that we need to have a balance…or some sleep.

I have to accept that our Christmas will be perfect even if it isn’t what everyone else is doing. I don’t have to be “that” parent that does it all.

I think we all have an opportunity to make our own perfect Christmases, whatever traditions that may mean for you. In my opinion, none of them are wrong as long as we are choosing joy in those moments.

So here are a few Christmas traditions we won’t be doing because they will drain my joy.

And that’s ok.

  • Elf On The Shelf-I just honestly can’t get behind this. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy everyone else’s creativity. I am amused daily at what people come up with. I, however, won’t be taking the time to be the mastermind behind hiding a plastic doll every night.
  • Santa magic-George is really too young for this anyway, but we won’t be making fake footprints, putting out milk, or etc. I don’t mind Santa-I have dozens of Santa figurines around our house. However, I want George to be mindful of the spirit of Christmas and not be wrapped up in the hype and commercialism that Santa brings. Also I am not good at storytelling so keeping up with this charade would be EXHAUSTING. I am impressed with people who have elaborate stories and gimmicks with their kids. I just wouldn’t be able to keep up. We also didn’t see Santa this year…While it is cute to have pictures of George with Santa, here are my thoughts-a) when you think about putting your kid in the lap of a stranger that is weird, b) I have no desire to stand in line with a toddler, and c) we didn’t plan ahead, plain and simple. Anyway, I didn’t grow up believing in Santa, and I still love the holiday season just fine. I know I am a Grinch.
  • Handmade ornaments of any sort. You would think with my crafty spirit, I would be all about homemade stuff. But, we won’t be having any footprint salt-dough or Popsicle things in our house. I will be honest; I do not have time for it. Last year I thought about it on Christmas day but didn’t have enough energy in me to do something about it. And that is my sentiment this year as well. I only get a few days off, and I don’t want to spend it forcing everyone to do crafts. I am not against doing them, just against organizing them. So unless someone else initiates getting the supplies and carves out a time to do it, these types of holiday things are not happening in our house. Sorry grandparents for not getting you George’s hand-print.
  • Gingerbread Houses. I have never ever gotten these…Why are we wasting so much candy? If George wants to do that, he can do that on someone else’s dime. We eat candy in our house.

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George still is too young to really get what is going on, so we haven’t really started any “traditions” yet. The only thing I have started is reading about the Nativity. We have a great pop up book that he loves interacting with as I tell him about Jesus. Next year when George is two and a half, we will be ready to really start some traditions like cookie decorating, matching pajamas, and driving around to see lights.

This is the first time we haven’t been traveling all over the place for the holidays. I will actually wake up in my OWN bed on Christmas day, which is definitely a Christmas miracle considering all the traveling we have done over the years. We also have a tree of our own for the first time ever which is a big step in the holiday magic in my opinion. We are just trying to enjoy the little things and not make a production out of every moment which I feel is what is expected of us as parents.

I don’t need that stress. George doesn’t need us that stressed to be perfect. We each just need to find those things that bring us joy, not the internet joy. The first Christmas happened in a dirty stable, so I feel ok that we don’t have lights outside of our house. I am choosing joy because this is my best. And I think the best thing we can teach George is how to be joyful.

So we are going to do us, and we will celebrate you doing you with your creativity over there without being jealous of each other. There are many ways to make this season Merry and Bright, so let’s not put pressure on each other to measure up to a Pinterest perfect Christmas.

The only thing I can guarantee is that there will always be lots of pictures. Because I am totally “THAT” mom.

And that’s ok.

What are traditions that you love this time of year? Are there any that you are a Grinch about too and won’t do?