Just Another Motivated Monday

Well hello there my friends, wondering if I went MIA? No, despite my ups & downs I refuse to give up on my goal or on my hope to help you achieve yours. I'll be honest, I did awesome for 10 days...then my son's birthday came, a friend visited and my hormones went haywire which threw me for the biggest loop of all. So following my ten days of being "fully awesome", as Rhino the hamster would say, I was...well not so fully awesome. Once again I was tired of not only reading all labels for content, having to pre-pack food everywhere I go AND having to measure it all, so I didn't.  Once again, I find myself feeling like I am starting over, except I'm not really, I haven't gained anything back but starting over is better than not starting at all and I am determined not to quit.  SO, I've made a list of reasons why I wanted to lose the weight and get in better shape in the first place, because I needed to remind myself that I am worth it and pros definitely out weigh the cons. 

1. It really is biblical that we should take care of our bodies, not become obsessed by them, but to take care of them as temples of the Lord. I haven't always been so great at that and I want to be. God made my body much more capable then I tend to think, his word says we are "wonderfully made", masterpieces, I figure it's about time I treat my body as such, respecting it as something created by the almighty God who also created so many wondrous things, and we are his favorite pieces!
2. I don't want to grow old gracefully...yes I know I am actually going to get older but to me getting older and being old aren't the same thing. Confused? You wouldn't be the first. What I mean is, I want be in shape, in the best health I can be as I age so that I don't feel old. Obviously this has parameters, because my body is going to age (hello wrinkles I found on my forehead last weekend- ugh) and somethings will be unavoidable but I can certainly avoid falling apart entirely as I age, that's all I'm talking about. 
3. I have two very active boys who run me ragged and wear me out will likely always be active (I hope) and I really want to keep up with them. I don't want to be a bystander in their lives but an active (albeit clumsily) participant. If they want to play soccer on the pile of dirt we have outside lawn, I want to play with them, if they want to go hiking, I want to hike with them...you get the picture. 
4. Ok, I am totally aware this one will sound terribly shallow after the top 3 posts, but I am all about being transparent so here it is...I want new clothes... I need new clothes, I have clothes in my closet I have been wearing for years. I really want to start dressing nicer, looking nicer when I step out of my house, rather than my traditional "young mom" (by that I mean the stereotypical young mom, I know plenty of young moms who take the time to look nice when they go out) look, the pony tail, no make-up (ok I've never worn much make-up & that's not going to change much), t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes. There is nothing wrong with looking that way sometimes, I am just tired of it being my "signature look". It really has been since high school and I am ready for a change. The thing is, I don't want to buy a bunch of new clothes when I really really do want to be fitter. So, I am going to wait but still try to dress nicer in the meantime. 

So there it is. Four good reasons to keep myself motivated (ok, three good ones & one shallow one:) and I intend to do- JUST DO IT (copyright Nike:), however long it takes. I confess I'm hoping to reach a certain goal before my trip to Oregon in 6-ish weeks. If I do- WOOHOO! If I don't, but I worked hard- WOOHOO! :) I am going to adopt a "glass is always half-full" attitude, because really it is, extra pounds or not. 

Five Years Ago Today...

Five years ago today, you, my first baby boy were born. After a year of trying, 9 months of growing & 36 hours of labor I was beyond overjoyed to hold you in my arms. You were blue when you arrived but quickly gained color and peed all over me. I didn't mind, I was so happy to finally see your face, and a beautiful face it was. Daddy & I welcomed you into the world with big exhausted smiles.

Four years ago today, we celebrated your very first birthday with many family members, including a dozen cousins there with us. You loved all the excitement but weren't too sure about the cake, although you did love the frosting. By one year you were walking, spoke many words and it was already obvious you were going to have LOTS of energy. You were (& still are:) SUCH a blessing.

Three years ago today, we celebrated birthday #2, a party you shared with your good buddy Abby. By now you were running, leaping, jumping and had a very large vocabulary, especially for a boy your age. You loved to do puzzles, loved to play with animals and love the Wiggles. You were only months away from becoming a big brother, but of course you didn't really know it. 

Two years ago today, we had your 3rd birthday, nearly all traces of toddler were gone and you were 100% all boy. You still loved puzzles, but had dropped the Wiggles in favor of the Backyardigans & Diego. You loved any toy that prompted your imagination, and what an imagination you already had!! We took you swimming and then back to Granny & Papas for cake, you loved it. It never takes much to make you happy and excited, you are see so much joy in life!

One year ago today, you had your 4th birthday. We were knee deep in finishing our new home so this birthday was pretty low key, although you didn't mind. We did spend the day at Boucin Bears with many of your friends and later just had cake at home, with presents of course. Such a big boy you already were, with such a sweet spirit and loving nature. 

And now you are five, this year we had a big party at Happy Hoppers, many of your closest buddies came to celebrate with you. It was a really great day, for all of us. You told me many times that it was the "best birthday you'd ever had", although I am pretty sure you've said that every year :).

I cannot believe how quickly the years have gone by, Isaiah, and how much my love for you grows as I watch you grow. You may be a little dramatic at times and VERY energetic, which can be exhausting but I wouldn't trade an ounce of your personality for a thing. You have the sweetest, most loving, tender, compassionate spirit and we love you more than words can say. We are so proud of you, the boy you are, the man you'll be. Every day we pray for you, and your brother, that God will pour himself into you, even now. I have already witnessed a love for Jesus in your little heart, you pray on your own and with mommy, you have faith that will move mountains one day, I know it. Happy Birthday to my sweet Z, I love you to the moon and back.