January: Nutrition and Health
February: Kindness and Generosity
March: Order and Purpose
April: Strength and Flexibility
May: Relationships
June: Adventure and Fun
July: Community and Environment
August: Knowledge and Interests
September: Sleep and Tranquility
October: Simplicity and Moderation
November: Gratitude and Positivity
December: Spirituality and Resolution
Most pregnant women aren't the epitomy of fun and adventure, and I understand why. All I can think about these days is eating and sleeping, not to mention, I feel prohibited from doing so many things: no caffeine, no alcohol, no hot tubs, no sushi, no strenuous activity, no rollercoasters, no bike riding, no buttoning skinny jeans...
Regardless of my condition, I already knew that this was an area I needed to work on. I love being outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, and I enjoy change, from my hair color to my car to my job. At the same time, I can get stuck in my comfort zone. There have been many beautiful, sunny weekends that I have opted to stay in bed all day with the curtains drawn and movies playing. Although I enjoy this immensely, there is always a sense of guilt that I should be out living life a little more. My husband will have these spontaneous ideas of things to go do, from just going on a drive with no destination to going catfishing in the middle of the night. Nah, I say. Sounds like it will cost money or be too much work or be boring. I am also a planner, so I like to know when we're leaving, where we're going, what the agenda is, and when we're coming back...in advance. This doesn't leave a ton of room for adventure or spontaneity.
So this bring me to June, which I have dedicated to fun and adventure. Although I have a few necessary restrictions, this month I will be enthusiastic and open to try new things. If an opportunity or exciting idea presents itself, I will say yes! We are leaving to go to Florida with friends in about a week and though I cannot do what I originally planned, which is to spend the week sipping Pina Coladas on the beach and staying out dancing all night long, I am going to be the most fun pregnant lady my friends have ever seen! Outside of this vacation time, I want to spend the month taking advantage of my time off work. It's easy for me to get lazy during the summer, and I've even had my days where I've never changed out of my pajamas or walked outside the door. I plan to get up and do something interesting or new each day, whether it's picking up a new hobby, checking out a museum or zoo or farmer's market, going to the river with my husband, or just trying a meal I've never had before (you mean they serve something other than cheese ravioli at Olive Garden?). I think this habit is important for my well-being because, unfortunately, it's normal to become more sedentary and less adventurous as we get older. I don't want my children to grow up where the majority of our time is spent watching TV, playing video games, and sleeping. I want us to be active, outdoorsy, curious and fun!
I want to live life so that I have no regrets, and I want to be a FUN person to be around. The following quote was said by an 85 year old, Nadine Stair, when she was asked what she would do differently if she could live life over again. I think I have a few things to learn...
"I'd make more mistakes next time. I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been on this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.
"You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, and a raincoat. If I had to do it over again, I would travel lighter than I have.
"If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds and I would pick more daisies."
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
"Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you."
January: Nutrition and Health
February: Kindness and Generosity
March: Order and Purpose
April: Strength and Flexibility
May: Relationships
June: Adventure and Fun
July: Community and Environment
August: Knowledge and Interests
September: Sleep and Tranquility
October: Simplicity and Moderation
November: Gratitude and Positivity
December: Spirituality and Resolution
On April 22, I found out I was pregnant for the first time. Even though the digital home pregnancy test plainly read "PREGNANT," it might as well have been written in Japanese. I reread the word at least a dozen times before it finally sunk in...I'm going to be a mom. Okay, it didn't even sink in at that point. I had never been so overwhelmed with emotions, from fear to excitement to disbelief to nervousness to love. I always knew I wanted to have kids, but I had planned that for the future, for a time when I would be financially and mentally prepared to start a family, and I kept bumping back the perfect age or year when that would happen. I guess life has a beautiful way of letting us know we can't always call the shots.
Yes, I'm tired, a little moody, hungry, thirsty, anxious at times, and experiencing all sorts of stomach issues, but I don't know if I've ever felt this happy and excited before! All I can think about is this baby, and she/he has already changed everything about what I eat and drink and think and do. Are we having a boy or a girl? Is she/he going to be healthy? Shy or outgoing? What books do I need to read? What stuff do I need to buy? Am I a terrible person for drinking this cup of coffee? Am I getting enough sleep? Am I eating too much or too little? Should I tell people??????? This is the hardest secret in the world to keep!
My husband and I decided to secretly tell only our closest family and friends and then to wait until after the first doctor's visit and the two month mark to tell the rest of the world. This created a problem that I am very lucky to have: I have a big family and lots of close friends. As we told each person and the various squeals, cries, and congratulations poured out, I was moved. How fortunate am I that this baby would come into the world with happily married parents who have supportive friends, excited family members, and a lot of love to give?
It seems pretty ironic to me that back in January I had devoted May to strengthening relationships and reaching out to loved ones. This month, without even thinking about the blog, I have already communicated with more friends and family members than ever before. My husband and I have grown closer over the past few weeks as we've relied on each other for support and gotten more and more excited about our future. I've called, texted, emailed, and met up with friends and family for help, ideas, and advice as I go through this experience. I feel truly blessed that I have these strong relationships, and I think the best way for me to show my appreciation is to focus on strengthening my role as a wife, friend, relative, and mother.
April and May's posts are a little different, but starting in June I will be posting like I usually do. 7 more months before we welcome a little baby into this world and 7 more months before the end of my blog and a full year of becoming a better, happier me. I couldn't have planned it better if I tried :).
February: Kindness and Generosity
March: Order and Purpose
April: Strength and Flexibility
May: Relationships
June: Adventure and Fun
July: Community and Environment
August: Knowledge and Interests
September: Sleep and Tranquility
October: Simplicity and Moderation
November: Gratitude and Positivity
December: Spirituality and Resolution
On April 22, I found out I was pregnant for the first time. Even though the digital home pregnancy test plainly read "PREGNANT," it might as well have been written in Japanese. I reread the word at least a dozen times before it finally sunk in...I'm going to be a mom. Okay, it didn't even sink in at that point. I had never been so overwhelmed with emotions, from fear to excitement to disbelief to nervousness to love. I always knew I wanted to have kids, but I had planned that for the future, for a time when I would be financially and mentally prepared to start a family, and I kept bumping back the perfect age or year when that would happen. I guess life has a beautiful way of letting us know we can't always call the shots.
Yes, I'm tired, a little moody, hungry, thirsty, anxious at times, and experiencing all sorts of stomach issues, but I don't know if I've ever felt this happy and excited before! All I can think about is this baby, and she/he has already changed everything about what I eat and drink and think and do. Are we having a boy or a girl? Is she/he going to be healthy? Shy or outgoing? What books do I need to read? What stuff do I need to buy? Am I a terrible person for drinking this cup of coffee? Am I getting enough sleep? Am I eating too much or too little? Should I tell people??????? This is the hardest secret in the world to keep!
My husband and I decided to secretly tell only our closest family and friends and then to wait until after the first doctor's visit and the two month mark to tell the rest of the world. This created a problem that I am very lucky to have: I have a big family and lots of close friends. As we told each person and the various squeals, cries, and congratulations poured out, I was moved. How fortunate am I that this baby would come into the world with happily married parents who have supportive friends, excited family members, and a lot of love to give?
It seems pretty ironic to me that back in January I had devoted May to strengthening relationships and reaching out to loved ones. This month, without even thinking about the blog, I have already communicated with more friends and family members than ever before. My husband and I have grown closer over the past few weeks as we've relied on each other for support and gotten more and more excited about our future. I've called, texted, emailed, and met up with friends and family for help, ideas, and advice as I go through this experience. I feel truly blessed that I have these strong relationships, and I think the best way for me to show my appreciation is to focus on strengthening my role as a wife, friend, relative, and mother.
April and May's posts are a little different, but starting in June I will be posting like I usually do. 7 more months before we welcome a little baby into this world and 7 more months before the end of my blog and a full year of becoming a better, happier me. I couldn't have planned it better if I tried :).
Friday, May 13, 2011
"Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack." --Henry Miller
You would've thought I was Richard Simmons incarnate if you saw me 6 weeks ago. I started April hitting the gym almost every single day, I was pumped about getting in shape, and I kept the following log of my workouts to ensure I was meeting my weekly goal:
Monday 4/4: Body Pump Class (55 minutes)
Tuesday 4/5: Body Attack Class (55 minutes)
Wednesday 4/6: Spin Class (50 minutes)
Friday 4/8: Run/Walk (45 minutes)
Sunday 4/10: Run/Walk (45 minutes)
Wooohooo! Look at me. I'm getting fit, I feel good, I can do this! But why am I STARVING? If I'm going to look good in that bikini then I have to ignore these morning daydreams of bacon and biscuits and gravy. A banana for breakfast is fine.
Monday 4/11: Spin Class (50 minutes)
Tuesday 4/12: Body Attack Class (55 minutes)
Wednesday 4/13: Yoga (45 minutes)
Friday 4/15: Body Pump Class (55 minutes)
Ok, I'm still doing good, but why am I soooooo tired. All I can do is think of SLEEP! I slacked off an extra day this week because I was in desperate need of a nap (or two or three), but I'm going to step it up next week. The exhaustion and hunger is just a side effect of working out so much...surely.
Monday 4/18: Biking (30 minutes)
Tuesday 4/19: Body Attack Class (55 minutes)
Thursday 4/21: Piyo (30 minutes) + Spin Class (30 minutes)
I sluggishly forced myself to complete my workouts this week, but I came home Friday and that's when things changed. I didn't totally abandon my exercise goals for the month, in fact, I ended April by running a 5K, but let's just say that itty bitty bikini might not make an appearance this summer after all. My body had been telling me something all along...
Monday 4/4: Body Pump Class (55 minutes)
Tuesday 4/5: Body Attack Class (55 minutes)
Wednesday 4/6: Spin Class (50 minutes)
Friday 4/8: Run/Walk (45 minutes)
Sunday 4/10: Run/Walk (45 minutes)
Wooohooo! Look at me. I'm getting fit, I feel good, I can do this! But why am I STARVING? If I'm going to look good in that bikini then I have to ignore these morning daydreams of bacon and biscuits and gravy. A banana for breakfast is fine.
Monday 4/11: Spin Class (50 minutes)
Tuesday 4/12: Body Attack Class (55 minutes)
Wednesday 4/13: Yoga (45 minutes)
Friday 4/15: Body Pump Class (55 minutes)
Ok, I'm still doing good, but why am I soooooo tired. All I can do is think of SLEEP! I slacked off an extra day this week because I was in desperate need of a nap (or two or three), but I'm going to step it up next week. The exhaustion and hunger is just a side effect of working out so much...surely.
Monday 4/18: Biking (30 minutes)
Tuesday 4/19: Body Attack Class (55 minutes)
Thursday 4/21: Piyo (30 minutes) + Spin Class (30 minutes)
I sluggishly forced myself to complete my workouts this week, but I came home Friday and that's when things changed. I didn't totally abandon my exercise goals for the month, in fact, I ended April by running a 5K, but let's just say that itty bitty bikini might not make an appearance this summer after all. My body had been telling me something all along...
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