30 day challenge, day 10.

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 10. Tomorrow starts level 2. Bring it, Jillian!

2. Walk: Check. The kids and I went to the park and walked the trails. This walk also included a sprint, thanks to the snake that crossed our path.

3. Water: Eh.

4. Snacks: Ok. There was some random munching, but it wasn't a lot.

5. Portions: Check!

6. No eating after 7: Probably going to have a bowl of cereal. I'm starving. 

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

Lots of exercise. Light dinner (including a salad made with collard greens, raw. Whoops.)

Not so well:

Happy hour at Sonic. Hello, sweet tea.

Keepin' it real:

Did you read where I made a salad with collard green that I thought was lettuce??

18 months!

Hill_spring2012_008, a photo by MelissaandSusan on Flickr.

This little cutie is 18 months old. Time goes slower the second time around. And faster. I know. She's becoming more and more like a little person and she's quite opinionated. Never one to mince words, she lets you know what she wants. And she'd still like to spend most of her time glued to my hip.

22 pounds, 12 ounces
31 inches (I think) long? tall?

Those were her stats. She's still in the 25th% for growth, but on her curve. She's a shrimp. She fits best in 12-18 months and the dress she is wearing today is 12 months and fits perfectly. Good news is, summer lasts forever here, so what's too big now will fit nicely come August. She's in a 3.5 shoe and her feet do not grow!!

She finally has some actual words! Let's see what I can remember:
paci
Mama (!)
Mom
cheese
yes
no
all done
dog
ball
geese
thank you
bless you
more (signs)
please (signs)
uh oh

Ok, that's all I can think of. She's started mimicking a lot more, so I predict a longer list soon.

She sleeps from 7pm to 6:30am every night and naps for about an hour and a half every afternoon. She's a picky eater and would exist on fruit if we'd let her. She still has a pacifier when she sleeps (which is the only time she's ever had it). We have to hide them in the corner of the crib, or she will go and fish one out on her own. Then she comes prancing by with it in her mouth and smiles. Turkey.

I filled out her preschool paperwork for next year today and can't even believe it. I'm sure she can't either. She still absolutely hates people she doesn't know, but hopefully all the times she has picked Theo up from SAPP will mean it's familiar and ok with her.

She's growing like a little weed, loves to read books, is obsessed with Lady and the Tramp and always makes us laugh. We love you, Goose.

30 day challenge, day 9.

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 9. One more day until Level 2, yikes!

2. Walk: Nope. We went to an outdoor concert and picnic and it was straight to bath and bed for the kids when we got home. 

3. Water: Good.

4. Snacks: Great. I actually don't think I had one all day.

5. Portions: Check!

6. No eating after 7: Check!

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

I was super hungry when we were at Target. I really wanted peanut butter M&Ms. I didn't get any.

Not so well:

Continued knee pain. To go with the shoulder and back pain I've lived with for more than a year.

Keepin' it real:

I am running out of workout clothes. You should see the outfits I scare up. 

30 day challenge, day 8.

30 day challenge, day 8.

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 8. Two more days until Level 2, yikes!

2. Walk: Check.

3. Water: Better than yesterday. 

4. Snacks: Great. I only had the two I planned for.

5. Portions: Ok. I had more Kraft Mac and Cheese than I should have at lunch. And it was Kraft Mac and Cheese.

6. No eating after 7: Check!

7. Blog: Fail.

What went well:

My knee was really hurting yesterday. I think I really need new shoes. I pushed through and did the Shred anyway. I took some Motrin and it's fine this morning.  Also, I went to the Southern Women's Show and there was an entire building dedicated to food and free samples. I had ONE sample sized hush puppy and a cashew. That's it!

Not so well:

Kraft Mac and Cheese.

Keepin' it real:

I have lost ZERO pounds in a week. 

30 day challenge, day 7.

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 7. Three more days until Level 2, yikes!

2. Walk: No. The kids were overtired and difficult and I couldn't keep them up to walk. I scrubbed our bathroom instead, which probably burned more calories.

3. Water: Better than yesterday. 

4. Snacks: Great. I only had the two I planned for.

5. Portions: Great! I cut my usual breakfast sandwich (bagel, two eggs, bacon) by using a bagel thin (-120 calories) and just one egg (-80 calories). I had a really small lunch and one small serving of dinner.

6. No eating after 7: Check!

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

Portion control. I ate on a smaller plate and it seemed like more food. 

Not so well:

Motivation. I wasn't motivated today. I still hit my goal, but not with a smile.

Keepin' it real:

Is it day 30 yet?

Blogging from phone!

I am back in the 21st century. Glory be. Now off to Shred.

Another mother's child.

Today at work, I held the hand of another mother's child. She's Theo's age and was laying under a blanket that we also have for Lucy. As her mother sobbed, hearing incredibly difficult news, I held her hand and put her lovey right near her face, like I do for Lucy. I rubbed her little hand until she fell asleep. She'll never run and jump, never breathe without a machine, will never go to school and hopefully she will make it to Disney World with the help of a wish. After everyone left, I held her mother's hand. Then I held both of her parents while they cried. Sometimes holding a hand or a heart is really all you can do. And sometimes, being a pediatric social worker is super hard.

Tonight, I held my little girl's hand while she walked in a parking lot. Tonight I put her lovey by her face when I tucked her in. I thought of my young patient and holding her hand this morning and tried not to cry. Today was hard.

30 day challenge, day 6.

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 6.

2. Walk: No. I had a terrible day at work, so we went for Mexican after work. No time for a walk.

3. Water: Terrible.

4. Snacks: Great. I came home with snacks still in my bag.

5. Portions: Great! We went out for Mexican, but I only ate one of my tacos and brought the other two home. So, not the best dinner, but kept the portion really small.

6. No eating after 7: Check!

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

Portion control. And, I didn't use my sucky day at work as an excuse not to work out. Still Shredding!

Not so well:

Water! I just can't seem to do it when work is crazy, which is always. 

Keepin' it real:

When things are hard, I still want to eat to cope. Sucky day at work = Mexican food.

Also want to add sincere thanks for the blog comments and Facebook cheers. Really motivates me to do well and I appreciate it so much! 

Oh, and Susan said my prize for the challenge is the new Vera Bradley I want! :)

30 day challenge, day 5.

30 day challenge, day 5.

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 5.

2. Walk: No. Work was super long today, I came home starving and had to figure out what to eat and I just didn't want to. Fail.

3. Water: Not great. Maybe 40 ounces?

4. Snacks: Really well. I had a brownie at work, but planned for it.

5. Portions: Great!

6. No eating after 7: Check!

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

The coordinator for the clinic I am in on Wednesdays always bakes. Usually I have 2. Ok, 3. Today I only had one.* There was no dinner when I got home and while I wanted to go pick up Wendy's, I had a Lean Cuisine and a Skinny Cow and then did the Shred.

Not so well:

Water! I just can't seem to do it when work is crazy, which is always. Definitely more than I have been, but could be higher.

Keepin' it real:

*Clinic was crazy, it was getting well past lunch and I was STARVING. I was about to grab a second brownie when one of the docs asked me if I was losing weight. I said I'd been working on it and smiled, but inwardly was all pissed because after that I certainly couldn't eat a brownie in front of him!

30 day challenge, day 4.

30 day challenge, day 4.

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 4.

2. Walk: Yes, but I had the whole famn damily with me so it wasn't quite as productive.

3. Water: Same. I think I will be around 48 oz at bedtime.

4. Snacks: Great!

5. Portions: Also did well here. No seconds.

6. No eating after 7: Skinny Cow post Shred after 7. Fail!

7. Blog: Fail! Work days are hard.

What went well:

Snacking. Getting much better at the no random eating. Work is hard because there is always someone up for a coffee/bagel/treat run and crap food abounds at the hospital. 

Not so well:

Water. 48 ounces isn't great. 

Keepin' it real:

I make Susan go upstairs when I Shred.

30 day challenge, day 3.

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 3.

2. Walk: No. Raining and 48 degrees means I can't take the kids on a ride around the 'hood. Did plenty of chasing them around a museum for 90 minutes today, so maybe it balances?

3. Water: Same. I think I will be around 48 oz at bedtime.

4. Snacks: Really well. Aside from a few mini marshmallows, I only had two snacks.

5. Portions: Good. Dinner was especially small.

6. No eating after 7: 3 mini marshmallows. Does that count?

7. Blog: Yep.

What went well:

Snacking. I was really mindful and stuck to 2 snacks and no random eating (marshmallows notwithstanding).

Not so well:

Water. 48 ounces isn't great. And I didn't get to walk. I had a chance to go to the gym today, but didn't.

Keepin' it real:

Both of my feet got cramps while Shredding. I think it's my shoes.

30 day challenge, day 2.

(Yes, I backdated the other two posts)

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 2. Not as bad as yesterday. Sore muscles somehow feel better when they are in use.

2. Walk: Check.

3. Water: Not as great as yesterday. I think I will be around 48 oz at bedtime.

4. Snacks: Eh, I did ok.

5. Portions: I had a little bit of seconds tonight. I made a REALLY good dinner. Edamame "fried" rice and sesame chicken. Both were from "skinny" websites, so both very healthy versions of my favorite Chinese food.

6. No eating after 7: Fail. Skinny Cow at 7:45, post Shred.

7. Blog: Yep.

What I did well:

The Shred. Today was a long day in motherhood. It rained, which meant we were stuck inside all day. Theo does not operate at his best when he's bored. He capped the night by spitting ALL OVER the mirror in his bathroom when he was brushing his teeth. I yelled at him. He cried. We did not end the night on a high. After I got him settled, I wanted to sit on the couch and eat a carton of Ben and Jerry's. Instead, I Shredded and ate a Skinny Cow. 45 minutes late, but still a win, I think.

Walking. As I mentioned, today it rained. Normally I would have used this as an excuse to bag the walk. We got a break in the rain late morning and I rushed the kids out (still in PJs) for a walk. A faster pace than usual, since I didn't want to get caught in the rain. So, I was proud of myself for not finding an excuse not to walk.

Not so well:

Random eating. Less than yesterday, but still an issue.

Mothering. Mothering did not go well today.

Keepin' it real:

After I was done Shredding, I realized I had roughly 6 inches of underwear sticking out of the top of my yoga pants. See? This is why working out at home is a good thing. No one but the dog saw it, and he's not telling.

30 Day challenge, day 1.

1. Shred: Check. Level 1, day 1. I didn't die. I didn't even have to stop.

2. Walk: Check.

3. Water: Check. I have found that keeping a full water bottle around is key.

4. Snacks: Eh, I did ok.

5. Portions: No seconds, so that's good, I guess. Helps that dinner wasn't that good.

6. No eating after 7: Check.

7. Blog: Yep.

What I did well:

The Shred! Working out to a DVD makes me feel like a 1987 housewife, but my kid won't stay in the gym nursery without going into cardiac arrest, so this is what I have to work with. It was hard, but I did it. And Jillian is motivating. For a few reasons. :)

No eating after 7. Susan and I have both been trying to do better at this. We developed a bad habit after Lucy was born of "dessert and coffee" as a reward for surviving the day. We both usually have dessert and then a bowl of cereal after dinner but before bed. We've discovered that the only way to combat this is to go upstairs after the kids are in bed. There's no food up there and we are generally far too lazy to walk down to get anything.

Not so well:

Still combating random eating. A Butterfinger mini here, handful of chips there. Those little handfuls add up!

Keepin' it real:

Two vaginal births less than 2 years apart = peeing on yourself when you do jumping jacks. So, that sucks.

30 day challenge.

So, I'm fat. There's really no way around that (literally). We got family pictures done by an awesome photographer and I nearly cried when I saw them. You know how anorexics look in the mirror and think they are huge? Well, I have the opposite of that. Prorexia, maybe? Yeah, I don't know. Anyway, the list of reasons is long ... two pregnancies less than two years apart, age, two injuries that make working out impossible, our schedule, two kids, and well, I like to eat. A lot. It's caught up with me now and I really need to at least *try* to do something about it. Hence, the 30 day challenge. My Fitness Pal says I can only eat 1200 calories a day to lose weight. Sounds like a lot until I realized that I'd have to eat air and Splenda for two meals a day to hit that. I'm going to keep that # in mind, but really, I am going to try and do the following for the next 30 days.

1. The 30 Day Shred, daily.

2. Walk with the kids, daily. (Which includes pushing 60 pounds of kids in a 20 pound stroller. Extra points, right??)

3. Drink a LOT more water.

4. Snack twice a day and that's it. No more random eating.

5. Watch portion sizes.

6. No eating after 7.

7. Blog progress daily.

That's it. I'm not setting a goal weight because I don't think I have much control over that, really. I don't want to feel disappointed at the end because I didn't hit an arbitrary #. If I can do the above every day for 30 days, I will have hit my goal. I think I will need a prize. I'd really like a new Vera Bradley, but I think that's out of the budget. So, I will keep thinking on it.

It seems like people lose inches but not as many pounds doing the 30DS. I have my measurements and will post them at the end. Hopefully with a nice total of inches lost. If you are a friend, would you help me? Ask me if I worked out yesterday (because I won't be able to do the Shred until the kids are in bed). Cheer me on. Lord knows I will need it.

Easter.

DSC_0105, a photo by MelissaandSusan on Flickr.

As usual, we went up to Richmond for Easter. After Thanksgiving, I think Easter is my favorite holiday. I love all the spring colors, getting dressed up and hunting for eggs. And I LOVE Easter on Parade.

The kids had a great time. Mima came up from Florida and Uncle "Bread" came from DC. Aunt Shawn, Uncle Jerry and the cousins were there for most of the time, too. We went to church, colored eggs, had an egg hunt and had absolutely perfect weather for Easter on Parade. For the first time, Theo said he wanted to stay at Gramma and Papa's house. I told him I would miss him too much. :)

Happy Easter!