Slow Down

This past Friday I got some heartbreaking news that a good friend's mother passed away unexpectedly. To say I was shocked was an understatement. I was very close with this friend growing up, spending a lot of time at her house- envying her older sister who was a cheerleader, and being annoyed by her little brother, as most girls are by their friend's younger siblings.

Flash forward to our college years, and we had lost touch, but guess who moved into the apartment next door? My friend's little brother. I spent years living next to him, and was so proud of the man he was becoming.

Flash forward to the past few months and I've HAPPILY reconnected via Facebook with my friend (who recently moved back to the Northeast), her little brother is having a baby in May with his wife, and her older sister is getting married soon too. I've always loved the bond that these siblings have, and after such a tragedy I'm so happy that they are so close. I know that this will help them get through this awful time.

On a related note- I took the time this weekend to be conscious of how I was spending my time. My son is at an age where he wants to play all. the. time. and I often find myself "too busy" with laundry, vacuuming, SOMETHING. He asked me to play trains with him Saturday. I stopped what I was doing and took the time to admire what he had built with his train set and play with him. (Sidenote: he has a different, deeper voice when he plays and it's wicked cute. He calls me "buddy" too... just hilarious.)

I just thought it was so important to take the time and breathe. play. laugh. cuddle. I wish  I could take my friends' pain away, but the reality is I can't. The only thing I can do is take time with my own family. Hope that I can create lasting memories for them. That they always remember my smile. My touch. My laugh.

On Getting Stronger

So... I haven't posted since October. Things got crazy at work, then I lost my job (long story... maybe for another post ;) ), started a new job, holidays were nuts, and here we are 3 months later.

One thing that has stayed constant is my focus on health and getting those last few (and by few I meant like 20) baby pounds gone... FOREVER.  I've worked hard, had setbacks, made progress, and FINALLY I can say I'm feeling GOOD. I know this journey is a marathon, not a sprint, and I've really been focusing on that mentality. I have a ways to go with toning up, but I'm getting STRONGER every day, and I've made that my new goal.

August 2014

January 2015

And by stronger, I don't just mean physically. I also mean emotionally, mentally, financially, and in my role as a wife and mother. There's always room for improvement, right?

Joining Beachbody honestly played a HUGE role in this. I've always been sort of complacent in my life. Happy with what I have. ALWAYS GRATEFUL. But joining my Beachbody team, has given me the drive to strive for MORE. I am always humbled and grateful for what I've been given in this life, but it's ok to want more, too.

It's ok to have BIG goals, DREAMS, and to work hard for them. And for that I'm thankful, too. My eyes are open. I have a vision. And I can see the path to get there. How awesome is that?

 Check out my new FB page too!

Flashback Friday

This time last year was pretty overwhelming emotionally. I found out in late August I was pregnant. We decided to wait to tell everyone until we were further along. My mom had recently moved to Tennessee and was planning on coming back in September for a visit. We were going to tell everyone during her visit so we didn't have to do it over the phone.

Well, during her visit I started bleeding. A lot. I had a miscarriage before, and was terrified I was having another one. She had no idea I was pregnant, so I couldn't confide in her, which was so incredibly hard because she's my best friend.

So, I called the doctor and they said they'd like to see me, obviously. I wasn't having cramping so that was a good sign, but there was potential that it could progress and that I could be miscarrying. I was heartbroken. I remember we were supposed to go apple picking and let everyone know. We cancelled so I could rest.

Visibly upset, I broke down and told my mom that I was pregnant, but could be miscarrying. She cried. I cried. And we waited for my appointment.

At my appointment, I got an ultrasound and the tech told me I had what was called a "subchorionic bleed" or "subchorionic hemorrhage" that they were common. It's basically a sac that forms near the placenta, and while most just disappear, there is a chance they can make the placenta to separate from the uterine wall, ending in miscarriage. Actually, most women who have them don't even know because they just disappear. That didn't happen in my case. Luckily, we got the confirmation that we were still pregnant, but I was told to take it easy until I could get another ultrasound and confirm that the bleed disappeared.

Fast forward to October of last year, and we were so fortunate to be told that everything was ok and there was no reason I shouldn't have a healthy pregnancy going forward.

This is how we told the world :)

Sweet Vivy

When my husband and I found out we were having a girl we were shocked.

It was a snowy day. We were running late. We wanted Jameson there to be a part of it. My mom drove him because Gabe and I had to go to work right after. She couldn't find a parking spot so Gabe and I had to go in to the appointment without him. My mom would bring him in when she found a spot to park.

We went in excited, anxious, and positive it was a boy. Jameson wanted a sister, he said, but at 2.5 years old Gabe and I both knew he obviously had no idea how much fun a brother would be for him. To be honest, we were a bit scared to have a girl. Girls played with dolls, and tea sets, and wore dresses and things with sparkles. How could they play together with a tea set, in the dirt, in a dress, with trucks while also being ninjas? We just didn't see that happening.

Gabe and I went in to the ultrasound room, got prepped, and the technician started explaining what we were seeing. Jameson and my mom hadn't arrived yet. The technician started entering data in the computer. Gabe and I talked about something trivial... Probably what we were going to do for dinner that night. Then, ever so nonchalantly,  the tech said, "And it's a girl." There was no question of were we ready to find out. No, "oh, there it is!"... not even an excited tone in her voice. Just very matter-of-factly... "And it's a girl." Wait, what? You meant boy, right?

Jameson walked into the room very apprehensive with my mom. Gabe and I were still in shock and told him he got his wish, a little sister. Now, what in the world were we going to do with a little girl?

To put it simply,  we love her with every fiber of our being. We make silly faces at her. We sing to her. Jameson reads to her. We feed her. We feel for teeth (3 this past week!). We take way too many photos of her. We try to make her smile and laugh every waking moment. To put it matter-of-factly, we do the same things with her as we would do if she were Jameson's little brother.

She is our sweet little grizzly bear who growls, smiles with her whole body, gets hangry like her Mommy and big brother, loves people, and gets a twinkle in her eye when she sees Jameson. I can't imagine it any other way.

Still in the hospital. Mommy cuddles (more on this later!).

Sweet as can be in her swing at just a few days old.

Forget the pacifier... she found her thumb!

Obviously loving her new bunny slippers!

Halfway through my journey

In August I was inspired by a friend's success in getting healthy.  She decided it was time agreed her second child and, literally, in a matter of weeks she looked amazing.  And her excitement got me excited. 

My husband and I bought the Beachbody program T25 and started doing it together.  It was hard.  I felt clumsy,  uncoordinated, and frustrated at first... But I stayed positive. 

I worked hard, I got better at the workouts every day, started seeing and feeling results, and became a coach.  I figured why not inspire others,  and get the sweet perks of being a coach (discounts, encouragement, inside info)... it sound cliché but I had nothing too lose but inches and pounds.

About halfway into my program I purchased Shakeology.  It took me a little while to commit because it's sort of pricey,  and unlike DVD's that you'll have forever,  a bag of Shakeology lasts 30 days.

I can honestly say it works. Seriously. I was skeptical.  I've never been a fan of meal replacements. .. they're full of chemicals and fake stuff. Shakeology got me because it's all natural.  I didn't think it would curb my chocolate cravings.  It did in the first week... I thought with 2 kids, a full time job,  and an intense (but awesome) work out program,  I was supposed to be exhausted.  Guess what?  I didn't even feel the need to nap mid day anymore. .. even in the weekends when I actually can! 

This program works of you work it.  Decide, commit, and for sure you will succeed. Here are some photos of my progress half way through the program.  This was before I started Shakeology. At this point I was down 10 pounds and 10 inches.  I can't wait to see the progress at the end if the program,  and how much farther Shakeology takes me. 4.5 more weeks!

Our weekend

Here's a little recap of our weekend. In pictures. Again. Because, really... pictures are way more fun than words :)
Friday we started with a "sleepover" which is a fancy way of saying Jameson came to our bed to sleep (at 8 pm instead of 2 or 3 am). Gabe stayed downstairs and watched t.v. While Jameson and I had a selfie photoshoot and watched Superwhy on my phone. 

Saturday and Sunday were pretty boring because Vivy and I weren't feeling well. So we slept, cuddled, made veggie broth, drank lots of tea, and attempted to pick up the house.

Jameson got to spend some time with his Grampee, too. 

Oh, and Vivy has almost perfected rolling over :)

The perfect fall weekend

In pictures :)

Baby Uggs might be the cutest things ever. 

Libby's U-Pick in Limerick, Maine. Where you travel via golf cart :)

Cousins

Everyone trying to fill our 10 pound box of blueberries. We came home with 12 pounds :)

Crawling through the blueberry bushes. He had a blast! (and most of his blueberries ended up in his tummy)

After blueberries... APPLES! We LOVE fall!

Sunday the kiddo's and I went to our first Out of the Darkness walk. Jameson and his Batman shoes had a great time :)

He was mesmerized by the big kids while we waited.

HAPPY FALL EVERYONE!