I guess it could also be that the boys keep me hopping. I keep thinking they've hit their peak of active and crazy boy-ness, and then they do something to make me realize we're only just beginning. Henry has started climbing on everything. It is not rare to come into a room and find him standing in the middle of the table, or perched on the edge of shelf, or mid-climb between the couch and a side table. It makes me tired even writing about it.
Patrick is officially phasing out naps. We've spent the week trying to get him into a routine of a quiet time of laying in bed looking at books. It hasn't gone so well. I eventually bought a timer and have set the timer. He is allowed to be done with his rest time when the timer goes off. He is a better child when he gets a quiet rest in and I am a better mom when he gets his rest in. He hasn't quite gotten the hang of the timer yet, but he will. He has no choice.
We've started back up on the diet plan. I've added exercise in (again, I know...) and am currently doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It's okay (and the only reason it's okay is because I HATE exercise. I will never love it. I realize it doesn't matter anymore, I don't have to love it to do it). There are some things I love about it. First, it's only 20 minutes, so it's out of the way quickly. Second, those short 20 minutes are not wasted - in fact, they are a little frenzied, but she makes sure everything gets worked out. Third, I can do it easily from my own home - and let's be honest here, the last thing this fat mom needs is to go huff and puff around an exercise class in front of all the mom's whose lives are obviously perfect and well put together. You know the kind, who have extra time (after parenting their 4.5 beautiful kids and being the perfect wife who cooks only healthy, low calorie, organic food) to not only spend hours at the gym with their besties, blog, redecorate their homes on an obvious (NOT) budget, stop by the tanning salon a couple times a week and STILL find time to visit their plastic surgeon regularly (HA!). At least that's how it is where I live. Anyway...
When I weighed, to my shocking surprise, I found that I was down another six pounds, and have lost another two since. This brings my grand total weight loss since April to 20 pounds. It feels so good to say that. What doesn't feel good is knowing I've lost 20 pounds, but realizing other than making my pants fall off (which I thought was because I had gained so much weight they just weren't staying up over my huge belly), there is no noticeable difference in how I look. That means I've got a long ways to go, but 20 pounds is 20 pounds. I can't remember the last time I took off 20 pounds. Now to figure out how I'm going to baby my one pair of pants through another 20 pounds. I refuse to buy new clothes right now. I've got way too much to lose. And yes, I only own one pair of pants that fits me currently. It's a pair of jeans and belts don't help keep them up.
Yesterday we spent eight hours cleaning our room. Our closet was over stuffed. Under our bed, which started out as storage, had become a place where anything and everything wound up. I'm amazed we never lost a kid to that black hole. It took a long time, but with Brandon at the helm we did eventually complete the project and got rid of SO MUCH STUFF. There are some happy new owners of clothing, maternity clothes, books, home decor, shoes, and winter gear. Our space under the bed will no longer be used for anything, it's way too slippery a slope.
In fact, that brings me to my goals this year. I don't like the idea of a resolution. I like thinking more about it in the way of a life change. I don't want the goals I set to be short-lived. I want them to stick. More times than not, they haven't stuck, but this year a key word on my heart is INTENTIONALITY. This is the year to live more intentionally. So here's some goals for the coming days, months, and years.
- Instead of whining about our small living space, work to make our belongings fit our space instead of making the space fit us. This will require some very intense organization. PRAY FOR ME. This is my biggest area of struggle. There is no sense in letting our lives overwhelm us and since we're moving to Uganda, why not start the process of cleaning and reprioritizing now.
- Spend more time together with my husband. Make this intentional. Instead of counting our time zoned out in front of the TV as together time, set aside time to make it happen.
- Lose weight. Keep it off. Work intentionally to change my patterns in this area of my life.
- Spend more time with God. Study his Word with the intention of getting to know Him better. Become more tuned in to what his plans are for our lives.
- Become more intentional about how we spend our money. In fact, it's not ours, it's God's. Work much harder to spend and save in ways God would approve of.
I hope to be back in the near future with some new recipes we've tried and some pictures of the ever amazing Heersink boys.
2 comments:
yay wizzy! 20 lbs is awesome. i am trying to refocus on good priorities, too, and it is really hard ... making time for devotions and exercise has always been such a challenge for me, even though i know both are soooooo very important. and i am such a better me, and a better mom when i do it. praying for you!
oh, and remember that all those pretty moms with all their gym memberships and their girlfriend time and their beautiful houses - all that is a big fat LIE. we are all struggling with something, or lots of things. i'm so glad for you and other moms out there who are honest about saying that this is hard, and we've got to accept grace, and stop assuming that other moms are as together as they sometimes look from the outside. you're doing great - keep being a fantastic mom to those boys. =)
Thanks for the kinds words and encouragement Julie! I did say much of that tongue in cheek of course. I think the point for me is the inability of many moms to just be authentic and real. It is hard for me to connect with women who can't do that. I agree about the struggles, I just would love to see the reality in some of their lives, because obviously, we're all fallen. :)
Anyway, thanks for the words. We all sure would be having a great time together with our kiddos if any of us had stayed local.
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