February Photo Challenge: Part 1

After today's Debbie Downer post, I got a bunch of phone calls from my friends and family making sure I was okay. I am! Just missing everything my old life had to offer is all. But let's not dwell on that. Let's see my first installment of Fat Mum Slim's February Photo Challenge instead.

I just now realized how awesome Instagram is. It's been on my phone for 6 months, but this week was the first time I figured out what it's all about. It's super fun to check out everyone's photos and catch little  glimpses of their everyday lives.

I'm digging this photo a day challenge. It's not too late, play along and link up!

I Miss A Lot Of Things

I miss my friends.
I miss my family.
I miss Tennessee.
I miss winter.
I miss my church.
I miss my hairdresser.
I miss my grocery store.
I miss knowing where to find the balsamic vinegar in my grocery store.
I miss knowing where all the back roads lead to.
I miss knowing where the good shopping is.
I miss seeing familiar places.
I miss strangers saying hi. No one does that here.
I miss my mom's comfy kitchen chair.
I miss my mother in law's cordon bleu.
I miss Sonic's Route 44 cherry limeades.
I miss Cracker Barrel's biscuits and blackberry preserves.
I miss long weekends in Gatlinburg cabins with my brothers and sisters in law and Brandon and Kristen.
I miss Mafiaoza's pizza.
I miss the south.
I miss public squares.
I miss historic Main Streets.
I miss cousins and aunts and uncles.
I miss my Nana.
I miss being invited to friends' houses for Super Bowl parties/dinners/just because.
I miss feeling rooted somewhere.
I miss my old life.

I am still in denial.

Weekend Adventure: Another Day, Another Beach

JD has worked late almost every night this week. The girls go to bed pretty early so they have really missed out on daddy time. We made the most of his only day off and walked to the clean beach today. We ate PB&Js on the way and took our time walking and talking. The girls loved the fresh air and vitamin D. I loved being with my honey. JD loved not working.

When we moved here, I wondered if seeing or going to the ocean everyday would get old. It's been nearly 4 months and I'm here to report that no, it never gets old.

We walked the pier, swung on the beach swings, and put ours toes in the icy Pacific. I could have stayed all day, but JD mentioned something about a football game on later today. Happy adventuring out there!

Kissy Kissy

Whenever I'm holding my girls, I cannot not kiss them. Their cheeks call to me, begging me to smooch all over their rosy sweetness. Especially after a nap when they're warm and sweet smelling. I kiss these cheeks approximately 457 times a day. A little more if they wake at night. Which is every night. I love these cheeks.

Fabulous and Fit In February

I have not written about postpartum weight loss since having Penelope for 1 very good reason: I haven't lost it all. It has been 5 months and I have about 7 lbs to go. I wanted to wait until I was down to my pre-pregnancy weight before mentioning the 50 lbs I gained with this pregnancy. I failed. So far, the weight has proven harder to drop this time around. Could it have something to do with my looming 30th birthday??? Possibly, but I think I have it narrowed down why I am holding onto these last few pesky lbs:

It could have something to do with butter. And heavy cream. And sour cream. I put it on most everything. I can't help it, I love all 3 and they make everything so much more delicious. Don't even mention margarine to me. Real butter is where it's at. Somehow I started putting heavy cream in my coffee instead of skim milk and I can't go back. Sour cream makes everything yummier, don't even try denying it. And then there's dessert. And portion sizes. I basically have no concept of a normal sized meal. Or that cake is not breakfast. I am out of control and I have the muffin top to prove it. Sigh.


Since my 30th birthday is next month, I am finally getting serious about kicking these 7 lbs to the curb for good. Or until the next pregnancy. Kidding, honey, kidding. I decided to dedicate February to getting fit. I can commit to a month of healthier eating, smaller portions, and regular exercise. Plus, I'm no dummy, I chose the shortest month of the year to commit to something. I can do anything for 29 days. I'm starting with this:

Source: tumblr.com via Aly on Pinterest

I'm pretty sure the bulk of those 7 lbs resides in my belly. I really want to get rid of the pudge in that area so I am going to do these abdominal exercises all month. I'm also going to limit snacking to only fruit or veggies, drink lots of water, and cut down on my portion sizes. I want to say that I'll give up dessert, but that would be a lie. I live for Jesus and sugar.

I took some before photos of my belly today. I will post them at the end of the month. Maybe. Only if there is change. Significant change. Abs of steel change.

Things also changing in February? The blog is getting a makeover. It's time for something new and I can't wait! Also, I am doing Fat Mum Slim's February photo challenge. Basically, you take a photo a day for the category determined and link up with others via Instagram or the blogosphere. Fun stuff, you should play along too! I'll post my pics on the weekly.

Here's to a fabulous, fit new me (and you) in February!

Ground Hog's Day

I'm in a funk. I feel like I am in a perpetual state of sameness and it is driving me bonkers. I am stuck in a mommy rut. Blah.

I hate complaining about being a stay at home mom because I love it and it's what I always wanted, but man it can be monotonous. I think it has a lot to do with having a baby. This age is hard. For us, it's all about the schedule. Every 3 hours Penelope nurses, plays, and takes a nap. Throw in some snuggles, poop, and barf and you have a pretty good picture of what my life looks like. Every. Single. Day.

Since she naps so frequently, I feel tethered to my house. Getting out and about usually entails taking a walk or going to the park. These activities are endlessly fun for Beatrice, but sometimes I want to do other stuff. I need different stimuli! I try to mix it up and throw a trip to Target or Ikea into our routine, but for the most part I feel stuck in my house doing the same thing I did yesterday. And the day before. It makes for one bored mommy.

My other mommy friends have all experienced the same thing. Having little ones on a napping schedule means a lot of time at home. I try to remind myself that it is a short season and once the first year is over, there is more wiggle room in the schedule. It's getting through that first year that is the hard part. One can only look at the same 4 walls for so long! One year, max. 

Don't get me wrong, I love my babies and being at home with them. I just need to spice up our routine a bit. We need more than walks to the park added to our activity repertoire. I have been googling and have some fun ideas planned for the weeks to come. Beverly Hills adventure day, anyone? I'm hoping that just one activity out a week will jazz things up. 7 months is a long time to do the same thing over and over again.

Do you ever feel stuck in a mommy rut? How do you break the monotony of your days?

Weekend Adventure: Beach Bums

We had one of those weekends that was totally exhausting and relaxing at the same time. It was just the right amount of rest and activity-ing that makes me feel all accomplished and refreshed, totally ready for the week to come. Oh, and between the 4 of us, we have been to the beach 3 times in the last 4 days. Beach bums, we are.

The weather has been perfect. Blue skies, highs in the 70s, coastal breezes, sunshine. We were outside 90% of the weekend. Today, we headed to Redondo beach with some friends. There are tons of shops and cafes near the beach, but we went straight for the sand. It was prime sandcastle weather and the kids had some digging to do.

Beatrice wanted to take her shirt off to be like her best buddy, Isaac. That's the cool thing about being 2: you can totally go shirtless at the beach.

It was kind of an idyllic day. So idyllic that I barely took any photos. The toddlers played for nearly 3 hours, the babies slept, the parents relaxed and talked. Dolphins were swimming, birds were fishing, surfers were surfing. I love that this is becoming a normal thing for us. California, where have you been all my life? Hanging on the west coast the whole time. Okay, cool.

We came home and finished up some projects around the house while the girls napped. We had a great weekend. I'm gonna sleep good tonight!