20 months. Two. Zero.

Be still my beating heart.  My baby is growing up before my eyes and each day you have a new word or new skill.  If I could bottle up the moments of the day, I would.  For now, this little blog will have to do...

You are all boy :) I can't even begin to count the scraps and bumps all over your little body.  You are on the move, climbing...running...hopping...dancing...screaming bundle of all-boy-toddler. 

Still comfortably wearing 18 month clothes and size 5.5 shoes.  These shoes and your boots are size 6..a bit big...but they are both your favorite.  When we ask you to go get your shoes, this is what you bring us so we put on thicker socks and go with the flow!

You have started saying two-word phrases, and 'talk' all the time although we don't understand you.  I like that you have started to communicate using words instead of cries. This month we have been dealing with a diaper rash turned Staph, so you've been in worse moods than normal.  Which means both of us are not the happiest at the end of the day...poor daddy....

Lest the reading audience think all we get around our house is smiles....

After nap time chair.  You have orange juice and a snack in your cup while watching...wait for it.....

Yup, Mickey Mouse Club.  You request it "Mik Mous" between your crying.  After nap time is rough for you still....takes about 30 minutes to 'warm' up to the fact that you aren't sleeping. It is also the beginning of the hardest part of the day - the time after nap to the time Daddy gets home - and you like to push Momma's patience button until its beyond empty.  Again, good thing you are cute...

You are independent and want to try to do things yourself.  (Wonder where you got that from) You haven't tried undressing/dressing yourself but you like to try to put on your socks and shoes ;-) You mimick just about anything we do and you want to be the center of attention...*sigh* Where do you get these traits from?!?

Since you've been out of school we've gotten to spend a little more time with Babi.  Our favorite spot is at the park. We bring bubbles and snacks and you get a kick watching (and mimicking) the older kids.  Yesterday you played with a sweet 19-month old girl for 30 minutes. It was so fun to watch you interact...but remember, no dating until you're 40 mkay?

Babi helping me with a snack

We have a family zoo membership now, so once a week we try to get a little animal time. You can say all the sounds and name most of the animals at this point.  The lions were sleeping, so you did your 'shhhhh they are sleepy" sound. Complete with the shushing first finger over your lips.  Cute kid.  Cuuuuuute.

Watching the Rhino eat some grass!

You finished your first year of school with New Haven Day school.  You had three awesome teachers (Miss Lindsay isn't pictured) that spoiled you and loved on you. 

Ms Kameron and Mrs. Chanel

Bubble baths and babies.  You love the water and swimming lessons have been the highlight of the month. You jump off the side, have no fear of being submerged and even went off the diving board.  I'm glad you like the water because we will be traveling to the lake this summer for sure!

Before school we go and visit your Cici at her office.  I snapped this picture as I had a flash-forward and mini-heart attack.  All grown up and working at the tender age of 20 months.  Have I told you to stop growing up all ready???

Most days at our house, this is the best time. You in your boots, outside and with your Grandpa. 

Hamming it up with our selfies.  I just love you, kid. More than any picture or word I can write.

#21dayfix Week 2!

Ok ya'll ;-) I started the week awesome! I had my meals planned, the fridge stocked and I even made some snacks and things that were ready to go.  With the house construction, I anticipated several days where I would need something fast!

This was a favorite lunch of mine from the week. Sunflower seeds, cottage cheese, and salad mixings with balsamic vinegar.  SO yummy!

Go to breakfast after a long run!

Here's one of the snacks I was pretty proud of! Yogurt parfait (plain greek yogurt, GF granola, blueberries and cinnamon) (One yellow, one red, and one purple)  Cohen ate the top half....so this will be a more frequent meal in our house haha!

Notice I've got three things in my hand...keys, water cup and snack!

\

Red wine IS allowed on the #21dayfix!!

Ok, here's the TRUE grit from the week.  I'm down about 5 lbs and a few inches off my waist.  For me that is HUGE.  However, I have NOT been consistent with the workouts.  And I had a bit too much to drink on date night so I have gained some of the weight back ;-( I usually weight once a week, but have been doing it daily just to see.  Unfortunately (and this is JUST ME) that number determines my mood for the day.  If its down I pat myself on the back and stay on track. When its up, I get frustrated and let little slip-ups in on the nutrition or just skip a workout.... My mind knows that weight fluctuates daily.  My emotions do not.  Meh...

Nutrition for me is. the. hardest. part.  And after tracking so carefully these past two weeks, I'm truly amazed that one cheat meal or drink really does set me back several days. 

Onward - this week is the last push and then before and after pics!!

Kitchen demolition day...one?

Here are the pictures from Saturday aka Demolition Day.;-) Surprisingly we got both walls down and half the cabinets in a few...8...hours ha! 

 

Audrey got to knock in the first holes in the dining room wall. We are opening the space so I can see out into the backyard and watch Cohen while I am prepping meals!  It looks so amazing!

Dallas and Dad are old pros at the tearing down and rebuilding houses... so they were our contractors. Dallas and Patrick spent about an hour putting in two support beams in the attic.  One of the walls was not load-bearing, but we wanted to be safe.  This is an awesome house and I do NOT want ceilings caving in on our dinner table!

Audrey, Dallas and Dad prior to taking the adjacent wall completely down.

Goodbye old breakfast bar....

Taking down the door frame...and almost done with the demo here!

Wait, how come we aren't working and Dallas is cutting the electrical box...??

Here is the 'finished' look, for now. You can see both the entire wall, and the partial that will eventually be a bar for extra seating.  We laid old carpet on those newly finished floors...because all that drywall coming down was nerve-wracking!  Also, those large windows you can see all the way to the back of the yard - it is such a perfect view ;-)

View from the laundry room entrance

View from the fireplace

Cleaning up (thanks Mom!!) and looking towards the family room

Soooo...the cabinets come in today.  Who wants to come and build with us this weekend ;-)  I'll cook dinner for you!

Mid-week update #21dayfix

Hey there,

Make sure you go back and read the last intro post...haha. I have blogged a few times just to get the hang of the new 'feel' of it.  Hang with me as I update things in the coming weeks!

Here I am day 4 and still doing great :-) I'm not gonna lie, been really tired and not feeling like getting in a workout.  I think its because my calories are still way lower than I am used to...and most people say it takes about a week to really bump past this lull.  I am really enjoying the super clean eating and trying to find ways to fit my veggies in!

Today I got an abripperX workout in and tomorrow will be another 5 mile walk/run.  To be specific, I LOVE the 21 day fix workouts, but have started my P90X routine until my birthday...so I'm modifiying the program a bit.

Day 3:
B- 2 eggs and Gf toast (red, yellow)
S - Shakeo with PB2 and banana (red, teaspoon, and purple)
L - skipped (had a hair appointment and honestly I wasn't hungry)
S - Mcdonalds grilled chicken wrap, no sauce (Red....)
D - chicken curry with rice (red and green)
w/0 = none.  boo. 

Day 4: Ab ripper x
B - Blueberries, Strawberries, fat-free greek yogurt, and granola (purple, red and yellow)
S - Shakeology with water (red)
L - Chickfila chicken (grilled) and fries...yellow container...right??
S - hummus and celery/snow peas (blue, green)
D - chicken curry...no rice (red, 2 green)
S - 2 shakeo balls (red/yellow)....needed some energy after dinner!


Some self reflection from the past two days.  I have got to do a better job of planning out my travel days. Fast food is horrible and even the 'healthy' choices are laden with chemicals and awful stuff.  I know it tastes good (well, some of it) but man, I feel gross after eating it.

Onto the next two days! My promise to myself is to workout both days AND no fast food ;-)

 Next 21 day challenge starts May 27th ;-) I'm doing another round...can't wait to see this week's results on Saturday! Send me a message to get in on the fun. I'll even give you my meal plan!!!

Day 1-2: #21dayfix

By now if you have followed me on facebook (at all haha) you probably have seen a bit of a change in my lifestyle. I've been following a new plan of eat whats GOOD and leave the rest out. Plus, I'm a bit addicted to my home workouts because I do them every...stinkin...day.

Since I have hit a bit of a plateau (Yes I've lost a lot of weight, but I can tell I'm still not where my ideal weight should be) I wanted to try this plan.  Its called the 21-day fix.

about 4 years ago...

First of all, let me say I HATE the word FIX. Anyone that tells you their product, lifestyle, recipe, whatev is a fix is lying.  My health journey has been just that - a journey.  I was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon until I started seeing the results of my friends and fellow coaches.  These are people who are busy moms, working women, people that need to lose 100 lbs and those that just need to shed a few.  Their results have been crazy!

This is everything that came in my kit!

So....I'm going to chronicle my 21 day journey.  ;-)

I have my meals all planned out for the week, including my 'cheat' meals of wine and cookies! I am a sugar-a-holic, so really cutting down and eating clean is going to be the toughest part for me.  Plus, we still live with my parents and they have amazing goodies always laying around (chocolate bars, baked breads, whipping cream...in their COFFEE).  I've told MY team of coaches that I want them to hold me accountable.. so here goes!

Day One:  Today was harder than I thought.  I started off with a 5 mile wog (walk/jog) around the neighborhood and was soo hungry when I was done.  I followed the plan. to. the. T. and you know what, that feels pretty impowering!  I even called my friend Ashley at the end of the day to ask for more motivation...I just wanted chocolate sooo badly but she convinced me that I didn't need it! Yay for accountability partners!!

Day Two: So far so good!  Woke up hungry and a bit more tired than usual.  I've been told that the first few days of really getting off the processed junk is always the hardest.  For me, I overslept until 7am so that meant I missed my workout...but I will get her in after my church meeting tonight!  Food for today: B- Nutter butter shakeology, S - forgot! went grocery shopping, L - pot roast leftovers, S - berries and yogurt, D - chicken curry with shakeology balls for dessert!

And yes, I've taken some before pictures, in a bikini. And no, those won't be public unless I have some seriously amazeball results.  Even then...meh...probably not...  I'm just hoping to feel better, know that I can do this for 3 weeks, and maybe have abs like Adras?