Do you see a resemblance? The Deacon forwarded this picture of Pops to me on Monday. We think he is around age 9. Does it look like someone else I know?
Scary isn’t it? Here is a picture of Cameron from just this last birthday in October and last Tuesday evening.
My sweet little Junior Mint is 2 today. I can’t believe it. 2 years ago at this time I was waiting in my hospital room, surrounded by my loved ones, awaiting our turn in the Operating Room. Yes, I had a “belly birth” as I refer to them. Mr. Miller and I were talking about that day last night. We had a wonderful delivery team. They were caring and jovial. We laughed at the music that they had streaming in. With Cameron I had my own, of course Jimmy Buffet, because I did labor for 23 hours before his “belly birth”. Henry’s music wasn’t our selection but it definitely fit our sense of humor. When I was waiting on Dr. Rhonda we heard “Let’s Get This Party Started”, “Cut’s Like a Knife” when we started and Henry made his debut to “Desperado” at 1:40pm.
We had a small cupcake last night since Mr. Miller has a work meeting tonight. His celebration will be on Saturday. Lots to do, lots to do!
Happy Birthday my little Junior Mint. We love you so beautiful little boy!
Good week! Feel like I am beginning to make some progress, not only on the weight but my own inner being.
Cameron and I have been enjoying the Wii with all of his snow days. The kid is a mean boxer! Had fun bowling and even bowled a 23o game. We discovered Netflix thru the Wii. Lots of fun and $8 a month. Thanks Amy and John for the heads up.
We downloaded Food, Inc., lets just say that I am now looking at my plate in a whole new way. We have always tried to be as organic as possible. Now it is just going to be a way of life. I can’t believe what we have been doing to our children let alone ourselves. We have started cutting out refined sugars and flours also, eating smaller more frequent meals and added more fresh veggies and fruit. I will tell you that we feel better and have more energy.
If you get a chance check out this movie, you won’t be sorry. By the way say bye bye to another 4 pounds!
We had quite a bit of snow over the last week. This gave us a few snow days, lots of hot chocolate, warm snuggles under blankets and lots of quality time together.
When I first started dating Mr. Miller he always wore baseball caps and usually backwards. I found it quite amusing when Henry came out with one the same way.
Cameron getting to use the new snow shovel. What exactly are the child labor laws, he shovels a mean walk way! (Like father like son!) Disclaimer: I only let him shovel for 15 minutes and then we had hot chocolate!
Henry taking great joy in watching big brother shovel.
Very tired boys.
A few weeks ago when I started this journey I feel it was more out of feeling sorry for myself. As I go down this path I feel that it goes deeper and deeper. I ask the questions, “why am I fat?”, “why can’t I take the weight off?”, “why can she eat anything and stay so thin?”.
This week I have had a few “post it notes” and I know it is only Tuesday. The first was the show “ heavy”, it premiered last night on A & E. What an eye opener, here are everyday people that are so morbidly obese and they are desperate for help. It goes so much further than the age old comment of “why don’t they just stop eating?”. I really felt a connection to one of the people last night. Then this morning my friend, Heather, posted a link that really made me think. In this link Shauna talks about it being “enough”, of course her “enough” was dealing with trying to conceive.
As I read the piece the question kept creeping up “when is my enough?”, well it is here. I am responsible for my future. I am responsible for steering the direction I am choosing on this journey. Yes, are there issues in my genetic make up that deter me from achieving my goals? You bet there are! But, it is my decision to fight them. I can do this!
I have had a better week on the journey. I finally got on the scale and saw a 5 lb achievement. I found the time to make my Wii appointments. I ran yesterday! Did you hear that? I ran. No more of the excuse, “only run when being chased”. It was a 5 minute run in place with the Wii but I did it.
So here is a thought I want to leave you with today. This is what sticks in my mind from that piece.
“I want to cultivate a deep sense of gratitude, of groundedness, of enough, even while I’m longing for something more. The longing and the gratitude, both. I’m practicing believing that God knows more than I know, that he sees what I can’t, that he’s weaving a future I can’t even imagine from where I sit this morning.
Extraordinary, indeed.
More than enough.” ~ Shauna Niequist
Take care and good luck on your journey this week.
A couple of weeks before Christmas we traveled to Newton to celebrate Gigi’s 90th birthday. We try to make it down there every year right after Thanksgiving so we can celebrate her day and to help her decorate for Christmas. We took Gigi to dinner and the boys and her got ice cream sundaes.
Once the set was in place Cameron decided to share a story with Henry. This is was took place.
Cameron: “let me tell you a story Henry. It is about the day you were born, kind of like when baby Jesus was born. Look at all the people that came to celebrate you, just like how the Sheppard's and Wise Men came for baby Jesus.”
Well maybe he understood my “freedom of expression” speech better than I thought. I love my little story teller.
I tried to have a handmade Christmas this year. We were about 80% there. The other 20% was in the form of Lego’s for Cameron and Thomas Wooden Railroad for Henry.
I sewed, baked, made candy and made a few photo albums and recipe books.
Here is one of my favorite pieces. I made this for my friend, Anja, she brings Cameron home 3 days a week for me. She is also my confidant on so many levels. I really cherish the friendship that her and I share.
I took a wool sweater and sewed the sides to form a pillow, I then simply stitched with wool yarn the rough outline of a snowman. I almost kept this for myself.
I baked some banana bread for some neighbors, the postman and our fresh connect delivery man. I simply wrapped the bread in wax paper and tied a simple bow around them. Of course I made my brother in law, Randy, his peanut butter balls.
I made a few basic quilts for my Mom, sister and niece. I sewed several table runners and napkins. I talked about the recipe book, here is what I did. I found a program on cvs.com that let you make a recipe book with a hard bound cover. You designed it yourself and it was ready in about and hour for pickup at the store. I usually do my photo books that way too.
I really enjoyed getting ready for Christmas this year. Cameron and Henry helped me along the way, even Mr. Miller was a good extra hand in the sewing room.
What were some of your handmade gifts this year?
Thank you for the overwhelming amount of support in emails, FB and comments. It is so nice to know that you have the support from your peers and loved ones.
First week, well there were times that it was trying but overall I think it was successful. I only got one of my workouts in but we are going for 3 this week. I am a little afraid of the scale just yet so I am going to get to that maybe next week.
Found some great recipes this week and ate very well and was very satisfied and actually had a hard time getting all of my points used.
We had Bobby Deen's Lighter Blueberry muffins with some Potato Soup on Sunday. The muffins are from Paula Deen’s website, and you know how I LOVE her, her son Bobby has done several lighter versions of her famous recipes. These muffins were 4 points, not bad with the Potato Soup for 1 point. I did add corn this time so it made the soup 2 points per serving.
I did find some frustrating moments but I had to tell myself this was worth it because I want to live a healthier lifestyle. I know there will be weeks where I don’t lose or gain but that’s ok. It will take a while but that’s while it is called a journey.
Goals ~ I had someone ask me about goals. Well I set a small one. I decided I wasn’t going to set them in pounds rather set them at first by achievements. Here is my first, I want to fit back into my corduroys. I have 3 pairs of cords that I wore before I had Henry and I love them, they hang in my closet and just stare at me. Well my little friends I will wear you again. You can count on it!
Good luck on your journeys whatever they may be.
We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. We had a dusting on the ground yesterday morning and this morning we were in full snow mode. This meant a snow day! We are supposed to have snow through the night until tomorrow morning. I am down a few in the sippy cup gang due to mothers that are teachers, so we are taking it easy today.
I have put on a Bountiful Beef Stew from my WW cookbook and some cornbread for dinner. I have some Gingerbread Tea in my mug, watching the flakes gently dance outside my window, getting lots of loves from the gang and life is good. Stay warm and enjoy your day!
I have decided that I am going to start a new series here at Green Acres ~ taken it off tuesdays. We all make New Year’s Resolutions every year, right? So this year I am not making a resolution, I am just going to change my way of eating and working our or should I say change the issue that I don’t work out.
Here is our first photo in the series and once a month I will post a progress photo of us.
Mimi gave me last year for Christmas everything I would need for Weight Watchers but of course I could find every reason in the world not to do it. Mr. Miller and I talked that we really need to do something. We have been blessed with these 2 amazing sons and they need their parents around for the long haul. We might be healthy in theory now but that could change if we don’t change our ways.
So here it is I am on day 2 and doing ok. I have written everything down that has gone in my mouth. Good or Bad. I am making myself accountable for my actions.
We have decided that we are going to have Wii dates in the evenings starting with 3 1/2 hour dates this week and work our way up to 5. This way we are going to get moving and make the most of our Christmas present from the Deacon and Pops that we received last year. Plus have some fun together.
I am going to report to you on the progress, good or bad, every Tuesday. Share recipes and thoughts too.
I would love to hear how some of you have been successful in this endeavor and maybe some of you would like to join us. Come on what do you have to lose except a few pounds and inches.
If I continue to have breakfasts like these I don’t know if I will be able to zip my jeans.
Mr. Miller requested some gingerbread scones last week. I searched my University of Google and it took me to the Tasty Kitchen and I found a simple recipe that I knew I could change easily to gluten free. I just switched the flour with Pamela's Gluten Free Baking Mix and it should work. Well yep, it sure did. These were amazing! Even Junior Mint loved them and not just because of the cream cheese icing.
So go ahead you know you want to! You won’t be sorry.
