A Little Honesty, and a Lotta Christmas Goodness

 

We've been plugging along, counting down our days until Christmas.

 

Last weekend Jeremy and I got to take off for a few hours and board a brunch cruise. 

It was a Christmas gathering for the local telephone company that he volunteers for, but any time away is looked forward to, as it happens so seldom.

 

 

It was a dreary day, but the scenery was still beautiful.

{If you can ignore the muddy waters ~ we have had an ABUNDANCE of rain these last few weeks!}

 



We've also been busy with our Christmas Countdown crafts and activities.

 



 

We had plans to have friends over to decorate graham cracker gingerbread houses,

but all of the girls have had sniffles and coughs, so we postponed, not wanting to pass any germs along to others right before Christmas.

 

So we proceeded, just the five of us.

 

 

 

 

We're flitting about ~ just like normal

We're crafting away ~ just like normal

We're humming carols,

and baking cookies,

and decorating houses,

and visiting with friends,

and wrapping packages,

and watching Christmas movies,

JUST LIKE NORMAL.

 

And somehow, the last couple of years, it just hasn't felt as normal.

 

The truth?

The real truth?

 

~ I've been a little grumpy lately ~

 

*Sometimes I want to hole up the entire month of December, and just BE with my little family.

 

*Sometimes I want SNOW. {Possibly so that we can be snowed in and FORCED to ignore the outside world for a bit}.

 

*Sometimes I just want no bickering.

 

*Sometimes missing those we love and can't be with really, really, hurts.

 

*Sometimes the holidays make old wounds open wider.

 

*Sometimes I love online shopping so that I don't have to battle crowds. 

 

and

 

*Sometimes I HATE online shopping because packages that are shipped out the first of December, still haven't arrived, and you FREAK out that they won't make it in time for Christmas.  Which leads me to . . .

 

*Sometimes I wish we could rewind to 1890 and hand make all of our gifts. And be elated with a peppermint stick or an orange in our stocking.  And ya know what, I LOVE to buy gifts for people.  I love to pick something out that I think someone will love.  I love to wrap it, and give it!  It's not that I hate shopping.  But I am getting sick of Christmas gifts.  The excess. The lists. What ever happened to surprising someone with something that you picked out especially for them? 

 

Whew, y'all.  I'm just grumpin.

 

Time for me to get some Christmas spirit back!

 

Sending out lots of love to you, in case you have the case of the grumps too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Weight

I've been kind of dragging my feet on this . . . but it's time.

Time to discuss the dreaded baby weight. 

It's so much more fun to discuss summer outings, crafts with kids, photography, and, oh yes, the sweetness and joy of having a precious new little baby at home.  But it's time to get real, y'all.  And the fact of the matter is I've got weight to lose. 

I have gone back and forth about whether or not to post my weight.  I think I'm not ready for that, so instead, I'll tell you how much I have to lose.  About 20 pounds.  {Gasp!} That's right, my sweet little Taylor Grace is 6 weeks old today, and I still have 20{ish} pounds to lose.  Let me just tell you, that's what happens when you gain upwards of 44 pounds during a pregnancy.  Surprise, surprise, I did not give birth to a 35 pound baby! 

So . . . here's what I'm doing so far:

Trying very hard to cut out the junk.  I crave a lot of sweets, and I'm not really into denying myself that, so it's a challenge.  But I'm trying to make better choices. 

I'm drinking a lot of water.  This is not a problem for me.  I typically drink a lot of water, so not much change there. 

I am getting up and moving more.  I seriously thought I was moving a lot as it was.  I mean, really, I'm chasing after kiddos all day long.  But when the scale isn't budging, it means I need to move more.  I'm trying to exercise daily because if I don't, then it doesn't get done at all.  3-4 times a week I do aerobics with Denise Austin, and the remaining days I'm walking.  I used to exercise all the time, but really haven't regularly since Kameryn was born 2 1/2 years ago {yikes!}.   So, {do not laugh!} I am starting slow.  Walking a mile and a half on the nights that I do the walking, and hoping to work my way up.  Pathetic, I know, but I'm just trying to be honest here.

Alright, so any tips?  Motivational thoughts?  Inspirational words?  ;)

Oh, and here's a photo of my precious Taylor with Nana.  She is growing like a weed!  Crazy, I tell ya.  I look at her, and I don't even care about the weight.  {But, I still kinda do a little bit}.