The Slimdown: An Update

Since I started Weight Watchers and the Biggest Blogging Loser back in June, I have lost fifteen pounds.  My ultimate goal weight, which seemed so far away just three months ago, is well within reach.  I am five pounds above that goal weight, and I'll be honest, it feels pretty darn good.

I try not to get too caught up in the actual number on the scale--although it definitely needed to be smaller than what it was and I am liking where it's headed--or the size in my clothes, which is better too, of course.  Instead, I try to focus on the way my clothes fit and how I am feeling.  I am at the same weight I was when I settled out from having the girls (130 lbs.), about ten pounds less than I weighed when I got pregnant.  But this time, because I have done it through eating right and exercising, and because I'm not two months out from birthing twins, my stomach is much flatter, I am smaller all over, and I just feel a lot (A LOT) happier with the way I look.

My backside is still incredibly flat (a lifelong problem for which there seems to be no exercise or solution), my chest is still quite large (I'm more okay with this one, most of the time), my hips are still narrow, I still have little to no definable waist, and though it is several noticeable inches smaller, I will never bare my stomach to anyone outside my immediate family (thanks for the stretch marks, kids!)...but overall, I am very satisfied these days.  My legs are stronger and more muscular than ever before, I can run a mile without stopping and without feeling like I am going to die, and my pants fit perfectly.  That is, the NEW pants I bought when I couldn't wear the old ones fit perfectly--the old pairs are gone, gone, gone.

I'll have to get a full-body picture soon...this is the best I could do for now!

As most of us have realized over the years, there is no secret formula or quick and easy way to manage our weight.  That holds true here--there is no magic exercise that helped me shed the pounds, and I certainly didn't do it with a super-special smoothie mix.  (Smoothies generally make me want to throw up.  I will never, EVER be able to drink a smoothie or a shake and call it a meal...I'm just not wired that way.)

Before getting serious about my weight back in June, I had already implemented a lot of changes in the way our family eats.  I felt pretty good about most of the things we were eating.  Upon starting Weight Watchers, I realized that the important change for me would be the amount I was eating.  On the Weight Watchers plan, I started paying a lot more attention to the little things that can add up during the day--creamer in my coffee (which counted for at least 1 of my daily points--I became very stingy very quickly and cut out the creamer as a non-necessity.  Who knew I could learn to like black coffee?), afternoon squares of chocolate, cheese added to a salad, the handful of crackers or single cookie I would grab when fixing a snack for the girls, etc.  All those things were negating a lot of the good I was doing with a balanced meal and an evening run.

For most of the summer, I followed Weight Watchers very strictly.  I measured everything to get used to portion sizes, I added up the total points in recipes, and I ate the heck out of all the delicious summer fruits and vegetables (most of which are "free"--zero points).  I also stuck to a legitimate exercise plan for the first time in my life.  I have been pretty consistent for the last several months, on a schedule of running at least 2-3 times a week and doing a mix of different yoga programs at least twice a week.  Seriously, this is the longest I have stuck with planned exercise, EVER.

Once I got the hang of eating less (and not starving, which was somewhat of a surprise to me!), the combination of fewer calories and exercise began to have an effect.  The scale moved, and more importantly, I could feel my body changing.  It was a great feeling, and an inspiring one...the changes just made me want to push harder.

Months later, I'm still here, and still pushing.  I have eased up on a few things--I haven't actually tracked my daily points in a couple of weeks, but I know the value of most foods I eat on a daily basis.  If I go outside the norm, I count again to be sure I'm not getting too far off track.  My portions have changed drastically, and my snacking is under control.  I might have an evening snack, if I really feel like I need it, and popcorn night with my girls is still non-negotiable (though I limit myself to only a small handful of their M&Ms).  We typically eat out at least twice on the weekends, and for at least one of those meals, I pretty much order whatever I want.  And it usually includes ranch dressing, which is still my absolute favorite.  But the other 90% of the time, I'm on track, and that balance has worked well for me.

Above all, I think the best thing Weight Watchers has taught me is to listen to my body.  Adjusting my portion sizes showed me that it takes a lot less to fill me up than I previously thought.  And if I eat the right things for my body, I will stay fuller much longer than I often expect.  I try to recognize when I am full, and I am working on training myself not to eat when I'm not hungry.  Novel concept, I know.  But those snacks and extras that were hindering me before weren't happening because I was hungry; they were just something I did out of habit. 

The challenge now is to stick with these new habits, both the eating habits and the exercise habits.  For me, it's the combination that works best.  I am happier than I was three months ago...not just because I'm down a couple of pants sizes, but because I feel better all around.  I have more confidence and way more energy.  I am super pleased with where I am right now, and my goal is to still be this positive three months, six months, a year from now. 

Mission:  Almost Accomplished.

Seriously, this time

Growing up, I was one of those skinny kids that never gave a second thought to what I was eating.  I loved my vegetables, but from a young age I learned to like them best the southern way--fried okra, fried squash, and mashed potatoes being at the top of the list.  For most of my life, right up until the last six or seven years, it was no big deal.  I could eat all my favorite things without worry.  Even more than that, I could take exercise (in the form of sports or walking, usually...nothing too strenuous!) or leave it, without a difference in my body or weight.

When Jeremy and I met in 2002, I was at one of the lower points of my college weight, just under 100 lbs.  (Yes, I spent most of high school and some of my college years being just plain skinny.)  While that weight is under where I need, or want, to be, it is far past time for the pounds that have crept on over the years to GO.

As I have aged and my metabolism has slowed, my habits--or lack thereof--have caught up with me.  My weight has settled between 140-145 lbs (yep, just putting it out there!)...which seems to be where I stay without working to do anything about it.  I was at this point when I got pregnant with the girls, then dropped down to about 128 after they were born.  Obviously, over the last four years I didn't change much and it added up again.

So what to do about it?  I am finally at the point where I am really, really ready to change my habits and take control of my weight and my health.

My eating habits are already so much better than they used to be, and they continue to improve.  I am still running on a fairly regular basis, with plans to continue that and finally get to a regular three times a week schedule.  Now it's time to put the two together...and I have a plan.

Some friends at work and I started the Weight Watchers plan in the last week.  (I confess:  we are cheating and not signing up for the actual program.  All of them except me have done it before, so we have the guidelines and food values we need, just not the monthly fee.)  I have also joined an online group, the Biggest Blogging Loser, coordinated by the fabulous Jennie.  It's just an encouragement/competition sort of thing, with each of us doing our own method.

Having never tried the Weight Watchers program, I was pretty excited to start.  It has gone well so far (admittedly, it's only been a few days...but I'm on track to lose at least four pounds this week!), and it feels very manageable.  I make my choices and technically eat whatever I want, as long as I fit the points in to my daily allowance.  I realize just how much mindless snacking I was doing, and I'm learning to let myself be hungry for mealtime, instead of shoving tortilla chips in my face while I'm cooking because I feel like I'm starving.  I managed to eat out over the weekend and enjoyed my meals, while still making pretty good choices overall.

The key to my progress so far seems to be the combination of the diet changes with my running.  Instead of the 170 calories I burn on my evening run cancelling out the brownie I ate in the afternoon, it's coming off my much more reasonable daily intake.  And it's actually making a difference!  Who would have thought?  Seeing progress is a huge motivator for me, so I hope I can keep up the enthusiasm.  Then, by the time I meet my goal weight (around 125, I think), the idea is that my habits will have changed enough that I no longer feel like I'm "dieting".  This will just be how I eat and how I exercise, forever and ever, amen.  (We've all heard the "it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle" spill, which I know is true.)

One more thing that's making all this feel much more manageable...  As of this week, Jeremy is home in the evenings!!  Yes, for the first time in our nearly seven-year marriage, he is now working normal daytime hours, at least most of the time.  It couldn't have happened at a better time, as it's just been in the last few weeks that it has gotten absolutely too hot to run after work.  And the idea of me getting up before work to exercise is just laughable.  Give me 9:00 at night over 6:00 in the morning anytime.  Not only can I make the workout happen, I can actually cook a meal for someone besides myself.  The girls are good to eat most of the things we do, but sometimes it's just so much easier to throw down a bowl of cereal and call it dinner.  I am just thrilled in general to have him home at night, in case you can't tell.  (We'll see if that holds true after a few weeks of losing my evening alone time and having to share the remote....)

So there's what's going on around here.  Lots of salads, skinny ranch, and grilled chicken, basically!  But it will all be worth it, I am confident.

What's going on with you this week??

New Recipes, Part 2

Apparently I have slacked off on trying new recipes since the beginning of the year.  It's been a busy few weeks, but I am picking up the pace on cooking again.  I am still sure that I have cooked more at home and more from scratch this year than at any other time in my life.  I am learning more about what fresh foods we will use most often, and more and more often, I have most of the items on hand that I need to make a new recipe.  My kitchen finally feels fully stocked, ingredient-wise.

I expect the cooking to pick up in full force again soon, particularly because some work friends and I are starting Weight Watchers next week.  I'm a little nervous (mostly that I will completely and utterly fail at this endeavor), but I am also feeling super encouraged by my friend Kelly, who has just lost nearly 30 pounds.  (You're looking fabulous, my friend!)

Anyway, here are some more new recipes I've tried this year (with only the Pinterest pictures because I'm a terrible blogger):

Source: budgetbytes.blogspot.com via Deanna on Pinterest

• These oven fajitas from Budget Bytes are my absolute favorite right now, and the latest in a string of successful recipes from her blog.  The fajitas are super easy, and I have even used frozen chicken and they turned out just as well.  These are also excellent left over, meaning I make extra to have for lunch during the week. 

• I got hooked on whole wheat egg noodles for awhile there, and I created a Butter Garlic Shrimp Pasta, adapted from this recipe.  I used the same basic ingredients, but left out the peas and only topped mine with Parmesan.  I added shrimp and threw on some steamed stir-fry vegetables.  This one was a definite hit with both Jeremy and me.  (Hey, it turns out I did take a picture of this one!)

•  Taco Pasta was pretty good, just a little on the spicy side.  Jeremy agreed, so we may likely try it again sometime.  We are all taco fans here, so it may just need a little tweaking.

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Deanna on Pinterest

•  I went through a crazy pancake/waffle phase about a month or two ago, and I seriously could not get them off my mind.  When I came across a recipe for Sour Cream Pancakes from the Pioneer Woman, I knew I had to try them.  They are definitely quite different from regular pancakes, but not in a bad way at all.  We finished the batch easily, and I kept the recipe bookmarked.  These won't be my standby pancakes, but definitely worth a repeat.  They are super easy!

•  Finally, in an effort to satisfy my cravings (not pregnant, I feel the need to specify, just hungry!), I made these waffles from Everyday Reading.  It's a great basic waffle recipe that will definitely be a keeper in our house.  I've actually made them three times in the last month or so, and we all love them.  The best part?  The recipe makes enough for me to stick a couple of waffles in the freezer for later.  Always a plus.

• While I have been having a love affair with waffles, Addison & Mackenzie have become a little obsessed with pita pizzas (and apples, which they are eating basically twice a day, but that's a whole other story).  I love how quick and easy it is to throw these together, and they're relatively healthy, too.  Take a pita round (we use whole wheat), drizzle on a bit of olive oil and garlic powder and bake in the oven for a few minutes to let the oil sink in.  Top with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and veggies of choice and bake (on a pizza stone if you have one, it makes the crust just a little crispy) at 450 degrees until all the cheese is melted and toasty.  Delicious and simple...the best combination! 

What are you eating these days??

 

(I hate to do it, but I am going to turn on comment verification for awhile.  I've been getting a TON of spam lately, so I'm willing to try it.  Sorry for the inconvenience; please don't stop commenting!)

January & February's New Recipes

As part of our effort to clean up our diets and eliminate most processed foods, I am making an effort to try at least a couple of new recipes each month.  I have never been much of a cook, but I have finally taken more of a liking to it over the last couple of years.  And Jeremy is finally becoming a (slightly) more adventurous eater.  Hooray for adulthood, huh?

Although my cooking skills have improved quite a bit, my available time has not increased by much.  So my favorite go-to recipes are quick, easy, and often involve the crockpot or leftover rice.  (Lest you think I'm joking, I eat leftover rice at least 5-6 times a week.  I don't even care for freshly cooked rice; it needs to be refrigerated at least a day or so before it's any good.)

All that said, here are a few recipes I have tried in January and February (Food blogger I am not, obviously.):

---One of the unanimous favorite new dishes was a Chicken Stew from Christy Jordan's Southern Plate blog.  It was simple, filling, and delicious served over rice (ha!  But I'm serious.).  The recipe makes a lot of stew, so it's perfect for leftovers or sharing.  I used all the listed ingredients, but I made mine in the crockpot and added lima beans about an hour before it was ready to eat.  The second time I made this recipe, I reduced the potatoes and onions just a bit.  Verdict:  delicious!

---I made my first baked oatmeal (this may have even been in December...I honestly can't remember), using this Blueberry Banana version from Budget Bytes (one of my favorite food blogs!).  It turned out quite well, and it was nice to have breakfast waiting in the refrigerator for the week.  I want to try the same recipe with strawberries next.

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Deanna on Pinterest

---We have been eating a lot more fish lately, but we are still struggling for a perfect method of cooking it.  A trigger fish grilled on cedar planks was delicious, but we haven't been able to find trigger fish in awhile.  J and I both love tilapia, but each time we have made it we felt pretty ambivalent about it.  I came across a simple salmon recipe from Pioneer Woman and finally tried it one weekend when it was too rainy to grill as planned.  It was okay and something I will likely play around with again in the future.  It really was a very easy method, so that's a win.

---Inspired by strongblonde, I made Koren Beef a few weeks ago.  It was a bit of a branch out for Jeremy, but he was a trooper.  Actually, he ended up liking it quite a bit and declared the leftovers delicious as well (with rice, of course!).  I was nearly out of soy sauce when I made this so it wasn't nearly as saucy as it should have been.  I have a new bottle and can't wait to try again.

---Of all the beans I cook in the crock pot, I had not made white beans until Mandy shared her recipe for White Bean Chowder.  I put a batch in the crockpot on a cold day and dreamed about warm beans and cornbread all day long.  They were quite good, even with the meager ham bits I had on hand.  Only one problem...I forget how much I dislike thyme until I put it on something!  My enthusiasm was dimmed, but only slightly.  I took a big bowl to my mom's to go with salmon patties and they were a hit.  Next time, I will remember to leave out the thyme and experiment with a few different seasonings.  : )

---Huntsville got a Chipotle restaurant not too long ago, and I fell in love with their burrito bowls.  Since my chances to eat there will be rare, I played around and created a somewhat satisfactory replacement at home.  My favorite combo so far is leftover brown rice (you're shocked, I know!) sprinkled with a bit of taco seasoning,  black beans, tomatoes, sour cream, and shredded cheese.  So, so good.  I eat this several times a week for lunch when I have a batch of beans.  (Canned beans work as well, but keep some of the liquid; it helps blend everything together.)  This is also good with taco meat or Mexican-seasoned chicken. 

---Finally, a creation that was a bit more fun.  A friend at work shared the Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Toast with me and I knew immediately that I would be trying it.  I didn't measure anything, just combined a couple of spoonfuls of softened butter with sugar, cinnamon, and a drop of vanilla.  Verdict:  Absolutely delicious!  It was a hit with all four of us.  I have cut back on bread drastically, so on a whim, I tried the same spread on a whole wheat pita (I split it in half, then tore the pocket in half, leaving four very thin pieces of pita).  YUM!  I cook it at 350 for a few minutes, then turn over to broil.  The pita gets crispy on the edges and retains a little bit of chewy texture in the middle, all covered in buttery cinnamon goodness.  This is a new favorite treat for me and at about 150 calories per serving (half the full pita), it fits in my breakfast plan when I eat it with two boiled egg whites.  I totally recommend that you try it.

Whew...that certainly felt long; maybe I am cooking more than I thought? 

Any recommendations for my new recipes in March?  (Come on, April, I know you have something for me!)

Wednesday Quick Takes

1.  Since I already basically gave up soft drinks, I decided not to do another sacrifice challenge for Lent this year.  Instead, I am committing to read Scripture each of the forty days during the Lenten season.  I was planning to do this plan to read the Gospels in forty days.  Then, last night, I came across a book I ordered back around Christmas that I haven't started yet.  The book is called 40 Treasured Bible Verses and has a short devotional expounding on the meaning of each selected verse.  Now I think maybe that was meant for me to read during this time?  I will decide for sure when I sit down to start tonight!

2.  As I mentioned, I didn't really make any grandiose resolutions for 2013, and I also never decided on a word for the year.  I did, however, somewhat inadvertently choose a Bible verse for myself:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  (Ephesians 4:29)

This verse has been on my mind so much in the last few months, and I generally find I am a much kinder and more gentle person when I consciously remember it.  So here is my public declaration that my goal for the year is to live by Ephesians 4:29.  : )

3.  Related, I guess I can finally also say that my word for the year seems to be intentional.  As my verse indicates, I need to be more intentional in my words and actions toward others.  I also want to be more intentional with my food habits (am I eating healthful, nutritious food or wasting my calories on junk?) and also with my time in general (i.e. reading a book or spending a few minutes straightening the living room rather than wasting an hour and a half on mindless tv).

4.  Mid-February is not too late for what basically amounts to New Year resolutions, right?  Hey, at least we know I didn't break them by the second week of January like usual!

5.  Following Marcia's lead, I am attempting to try at least 2-3 new recipes each month.  (I do plan to do a post and share my thoughts on these, maybe every other month or so).  It wasn't totally new (I've made it once before), but I made cajun-style red beans in the crockpot yesterday, in honor of Mardi Gras.  I basically used this recipe, and added a little more cajun seasoning this time, and they were delicious!  I am so glad to have leftovers for the next week or so.  

The State of Affairs: January 2013

Trips/Outings:  NONE, and that was absolutely fine by me.  After the whirlwind holiday season, the quiet weekends at home have been fantastic.

Oh, wait...I did go on a youth retreat with the kids from church.  This was my second time on this trip, and it is my most favorite kind--quiet, relaxing, and no phone service.  We don't have to lead anything or be anywhere; we just make sure the kids are doing what they're supposed to be doing.  It was like vacation for me!

 Books read:  5
The Duck Commander Family:  How Faith, Family, and Ducks Built a Dynasty--Jeremy and I really got into the show Duck Dynasty late last fall, so I ordered this book for him for Christmas.  It was fun to learn a few new things about the family, and their unabashed sharing of their faith is refreshing.  (It seems like nearly everyone around here is watching that show...is it just a southern thing?)

The Willpower Instinct--I had doubts about how much I would enjoy this book, but I am so glad I read it.  Excellent book for starting a new year.  Reviewed here.

These Things Happen--This was okay.  I could have liked it quite a bit, but the writing and the dialogue felt very pretentious and ended up being a little confusing at times.

Here I Go Again--Fun, fun, fun book.  Perfect light weekend or vacation reading.  Reviewed here. 

Into the Darkest Corner--Creepy, suspenseful, and chilling.  I'd definitely read more from this author.  Review here.

The girls received a copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible for Christmas, and they (especially Mackenzie) are absolutely loving it.  We read 2-3 stories from it most nights, and it's the only book M has chosen to read in bed for the last month.  Though I'm sure I will be tired of reading it aloud before too long, it thrills me to see how much they are learning from the stories.

Music
I had a couple of iTunes gift cards from Christmas, so I uncharacteristically bought two albums this month:  Fun. and The Lumineers.  I'm liking The Lumineers, but I haven't listened to it all that much yet because I am completely in LOVE with the Fun. album.  Seriously, I want to listen to it all the time.


(It may sound a little cheesy, but parts of this month were very, very difficult and the words to this song ("Carry On") became something of a mantra for me.  I can't get enough of it.)

Notables
I didn't start out this year with grand plans to make big changes in our lives.  I didn't want to get caught up in the January resolution-making, particularly the kind of dramatic resolutions that disappear by February 1.

Still, the changes seem to be creeping in on us, most noticeably for me in the area of food.  I am making big efforts to change my diet (and Jeremy's too, as a result) to a whole-food, plant based way of eating.  I am far from an all-or-nothing type of person when it comes to things like this, so I make no sweeping declarations in this area.  I'm okay with an 80-90% non-processed diet on a daily basis, and I won't feel bad for indulging or having a lazy moment here and there.  It happens, and it will continue to happen.

In the month of January in particular, I probably ate out fewer times than ever before in my adult life.  There were a couple of weeks when our Sunday dinner was my only restaurant meal of the week.  I feel good about that, and hope to keep that up and continue the new habits we're creating for our family.  I have been consistently eating less meat over the last few months, something I want to keep up as well.  I tried to keep track of my meatless meals during the month, and I think it was around 11-12 (that's lunches and dinners...my breakfasts almost never include meat anyway).

Finally, I can't really talk the "whole foods" talk with a Diet Coke in my hand, so that's something I'm working on too.  Again, no sweeping declarations, but I drank the last Diet Coke in my house a couple of weeks ago, and I don't intend to replace them.  I am quite sure I haven't had my last soft drink ever, but it's a start.  My water intake increased at least 100% this month, without a doubt.

This wasn't the greatest January on record, mainly due to the tragic events involving our family friends, but it was otherwise a good month.  I am still struggling with that situation, and I imagine many of us will be for a long, long time to come.  But we are "carrying on"  (see? mantra.), and keeping strong in our faith.

How was your January?

Holiday Menu Planning

I don't normally put a whole lot of thought into the meals we eat around the holidays, but this year, Jeremy and I are more interested in food and cooking than ever before.  We are having Christmas morning at our house for the first time this year--a gathering that has always been at my mom's.  I feel like I should contribute a little more than usual in that area, which requires some planning.  And we are having Jeremy's parents and sister over on the Sunday before Christmas, which adds one more meal into the mix.

Here's what I have in mind:

Sunday, December 23:  Christmas with Jeremy's family

Smoked ham (J will do this during the day)
Potato Salad (made by my MIL)
Green Bean Casserole (made by my SIL)
Macaroni and Cheese (Largely for A & M)
Stuffed Eggs
Green Vegetable--maybe asparagus or brussels sprouts?
Rolls
Chocolate Trifle

Christmas Eve:  Christmas with my Dad 
*If we get together with my Dad at his house, which now seems likely, I'll fix the soup anyway and we will have it for supper.

White Chicken Chili (awesome crockpot recipe I need to share!)
Assorted toppings:  shredded cheese, sour cream, corn chips
A dessert, most likely provided by my stepmom

Christmas Day:  Breakfast/Brunch with my Mom and family

Breakfast casserole (likely one with eggs, so I don't feel like I have to scramble more)
Sausage stars
Biscuits and/or toast
Leftover smoked ham
Warm Strawberry Compote
Coffee

Have you planned your meals for next week?  Anyone have a great vegetable or baked mac n' cheese recipe to share?

Happy one-week-til-Christmas! 

Crock Pot Black Beans

On this post earlier in the week, Marcia asked about my recipe for black beans.  I admit I have always used canned black beans in the past.  But after making them in the crock pot this time, I don't plan to ever go back to the canned variety.  They were so easy and so good!

From a variety of different recipes, this is what I came up with:

1 lb. dry black beans
2 cups chicken stock (or chicken base and water, which is what I like to use)*
2 +/- cups water
1 bunch chopped cilantro
1/2 small red onion, diced
1 T minced garlic

Throw everything in the crock pot and cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 8 hours, and you have an entire pot of beans for $2 or $3.  Can't beat that!

*I read a couple of recipes that mentioned the chicken stock to give the beans extra flavor.  I had a jar of base in the fridge, so I used 2 tablespoons of it with about 4-5 cups of water (enough to cover the beans well).  The beans turned out exactly as I wanted them to, so I will repeat the chicken stock or base in the future.

 

Though I could easily have eaten black beans and rice all week, I used a large portion of the pot to make Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas.

You guys, these quesadillas were SO good.  They are very filling; just one and a side of fruit is enough to satisfy me for lunch.  We have several in the freezer and I have already been going through the stash for easy lunches or weeknight meals.

Budget Bytes is probably my favorite food blog right now.  I want to make nearly every recipe on there!

What is your favorite food blog/recipe site?  Any recommendations?

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 Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a copy of the book Brand New Human Being!  The contest runs through 10 p.m. CST Sunday night.

Lately

With only a few minor exceptions (mostly J's work stuff that's far beyond our control), things have been good lately.  Really good, in fact.

The girls are at a point where they can skip nap when we find something better to do, usually without earth-shattering consequences come bedtime.  It's nice to be able to do a few things differently every once in awhile.  With summer here in full force, I imagine we will take advantage of the option to choose adventures like the splash park or ice cream dates over naps when the mood strikes.

Addison & Mackenzie are interested in things they have never noticed before.  We spent nearly an hour out in the yard the other night, chasing and catching lightning bugs.  Their pretend games are longer and more involved than ever, and they can entertain themselves for the longest time with random objects.  Yesterday it was a roll of duct tape; today, a spool of thread. 

Jeremy and I are making a concentrated effort to change some of our eating habits, focusing on more real and natural (and low-carb) foods.  We are working hard to find new meals we both enjoy.

Personally, I have found myself eating a lot less meat.  I don't know if y'all know this or not, but the South is kind of a "meat & potatoes" kind of place.  Growing up, I didn't think you could have a real meal without meat.  Slowly, I'm learning that there are several meatless meals I really like.  Black beans, rice, and other vegetables and whole grains have become staples in my diet over the last few months, and I just realized today that I am now eating at least 5-6 meatless meals during the week.  I made and froze black bean quesadillas last week, and they make an excellent lunch.

The girls and I are taking lots of afternoon/evening walks.  They sit in the stroller, eating a snack and chatting their nonsense to one another while I jam to a Pandora station and focus on pushing 60+ pounds of kids and stroller up the hill in our neighborhood.  We saw the resident neighborhood peacock (yes, peacock!  No idea where he came from....) the other day, which was way more exciting for me than for A & M.  They did think it was really cool when I let them go out dressed like this, though:

Evening stroll attire should always include pajamas and rain boots.  Cowboy hat and Nerf gun are optional.

Yes, things are going well around here lately. 

How about you?

I know this...why can't I do it?

First of all, I hope all my mama friends had a Happy Mother's Day!  I certainly did--Jeremy and the girls were super nice and gave me a pretty low-key, relaxing day.  We went to church, had lunch with our usual Sunday crowd (including my mom, of course!), then took relatively good naps.  Last night we went to Olive Garden with Jeremy's family.  After that, I got a trip to Target with NO complaining or rushing from anyone.  Score!  : )

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So there has been an article going around this week, "Why the Campaign to Stop America's Obesity Crisis Keeps Failing".  The article is largely a rebuttal of sorts to some of the information presented in the upcoming HBO documentary The Weight of the Nation.  The author of the article, Gary Taubes, points out that the anti-obesity establishment largely touts the principle of energy imbalance as the reason we get fat.  At heart, the problem being that "we consume too many calories and expend too few".

Taubes's argument is that the establishment's theory "ignores" the implication of specific foods--namely refined sugars and grains--which have negative effects on the insulin hormone that regulates fat accumulation.  Simply put, not all calories are created equal, and those that come from refined sugars and grains are the most harmful.

And you know?  I KNOW THIS.  I've seen it in practice, when I was following the glycemic index meal plan while I was pregnant.  I started out with a few pounds to lose and only ended up gaining 26 pounds, most of which was comprised of babies and fluid.  I fully believe that it was because of the way I was eating that kept my weight in check, and the babies were able to use a lot of what I already had for their nutrition.

Now, I could be wrong on that whole theory about the babies using my "extra" weight, but I am certain I am not wrong about my diet keeping my weight under control.  After I had the girls, I continued to follow the glycemic index for the first several weeks.  Even when I slacked off a bit, I kept a lot of what I'd learned in mind and was able to keep my weight well below my pre-pregnancy number for quite some time.  

I can't pinpoint exactly when that all went out the window, but the scales and my body clearly reflect that it did.  Experience tells me that instead of drastically reducing my daily calorie intake and struggling to exercise more and more (which I could stand more of, sure, but that's not really the point here), the single best thing I could do for myself is to return to eating by the plan that I know works.  WHY AM I NOT DOING THIS?

I really have no answer to this question, except that it's hard sometimes.  Which kind of sums the whole thing up in one statement, because again, I know from experience that after awhile it's not nearly as hard to turn down those tempting desserts, the potatoes, or that basket of bread.  Well, okay, the bread is always a hard one for me, but it's a lot easier to do when I am seeing the results of those sacrifices.  But I have to start--really and truly start, not half-assing it the way I have been--to see a difference and therefore, keep my motivation going. 

So I guess this is my commitment anew to getting myself in gear and doing what I know needs to be done for myself and my health and my body.   I really am at pretty much an all-time low regarding my satisfaction with my body right now...no better time to start again, right?  

Here we go....

Learning to eat like a grown up

Hi, my name is Deanna and I waste food.  I rarely eat leftovers.  I often buy fresh ingredients with a certain dish in mind, then let them all spoil before I actually get the meal cooked.  I purchase food, and it sits in the pantry, unused, until it is eventually thrown out.

Terrible, I know.  It was a couple of years ago that I first realized how much food we waste as a family, and since then I have tried to be more resourceful in our meals and shopping.  The small changes have helped, but we still have a long way to go.

I have learned to buy mostly our staple foods at the grocery store each week, things I am pretty sure will be eaten.  If I need specific ingredients for a dish, I try to think of other ways to use the remainder of that ingredient.  If I buy for a specific meal and our plans change, I try hard to squeeze that meal in another night.

I am still not good with leftovers, but I am learning which foods I do like reheated, and I am making those foods more often.  I have learned to decline a to-go box at a restaurant, unless I feel sure it will be eaten.  (This doesn't really help the wastefulness, but hey--it saves the use of a styrofoam plate and doesn't take up valuable space in my refrigerator.)

I have also started a kind of meal rotation, especially for weeknights when Jeremy is not home to help with the crazy dinner and bath rush.  It's not written down (yet!) or very specific, but I have a few standard meals that the girls and I both enjoy and that are easy to prepare.

One of our weekly standards is a Mexican night, when I pick up fresh chips, salsa, and queso from a Mexican restaurant on the way home.  Addison & Mackenzie LOVE "chips and cheese", and could easily make a meal out of that alone (healthy, right?).  For these nights, I usually have mexican chicken waiting in the crockpot, which we use to fill tortillas to go with our chips.

As a bonus, there is plenty of the chicken left for me to eat all week.  I have been making nachos for my lunch at least 2-3 days a week lately, and it really helps me feel a lot less wasteful to finish off that entire bowl of chicken!

What are your favorite weeknight meals?  Do you have any tips for becoming less wasteful?  Am I alone in my disdain for leftovers?

By the way, here is my mexican chicken recipe, which is super convenient for tacos, burritos, nachos, etc....

Combine the following in the crockpot:
2-3 Boneless chicken breasts
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 package dry taco seasoning

Cook 6-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high, then shred the chicken and add a can of black beans (drained).  Heat another 30 minutes or so, and it's ready.

Diet & Exercise

As I mentioned last week, I have decided it is time to take a few serious steps toward improving my weight and health. I know myself well enough to know that I am not going to stick with any kind of drastic, all-or-nothing plan, but small steps toward the goal are better than no steps, right?

According to my profile on the My Fitness Pal app, my goal is 1200 calories per day. Honestly, I have never counted calories before in my life, but I knew for certain that I had been eating far more than 1200 calories every day.  I was not sure I could make it through a day eating so little!

To my surprise, I have survived at or around 1200 calories for about two weeks now...during the week, at least. Weekends, so far, have been a bit of a problem to get under control.  I don't go all-out and eat everything in sight on weekends, but I definitely relax the weekday standards. I know I have to change that, and I really am working on it. As part of our efforts to scale back the budget, we are trying to eat out less and plan good, healthy meals at home more often.

The frustrating part is that even after meeting my calorie goals each weekday, I think I might be down about one pound. Very, very discouraging.

I am working on incorporating more exercise this week, which is also an area where I have plenty of room for improvement. Again, I know myself well enough not to set my expectations too high, so I am starting with very minimum goals. I am still enjoying this power yoga/pilates workout on Netflix, and I like doing Just Dance on the Wii sometimes. I will never, ever, ever like running, but I do enjoy walking when I can work it in. That's really the key for me, I think...I have to find time to work something in. I am hopeful that at least a minimum level of regular exercise combined with my 1200-calorie diet (ugh!) will begin to make a difference.

Now tell me...
How do you control your diet on the weekends? Do you eat relatively the same every day, or do you have a designated splurge day? Breakfast is a hard meal for me to add variety--what is your standard weekday breakfast?

It's Fall! (Sort of, anyway...)

The official arrival of fall has those of us in the south eagerly anticipating some cooler temperatures.  Though we are in for some very nice weather this weekend (morning lows in the 40s!!), I'm afraid we can't turn off the air conditioning just yet.

So what do we do when all the stores have out pumpkins and winter clothing?  We fake it!  We dutifully buy our pumpkins and mums and begin to pull out long-buried pants and closed-toe shoes.  We wear hoodies and sweaters for the cool mornings, then shed them by lunchtime when we start to sweat.

Y'all might be able to guess that one of my favorite things about fall/winter is the food.  I love soups and stews, and the idea of a warm dinner simmering in the crockpot all day makes me giddy with excitement.

I have already broken out the fall recipes in our house (faking it!), and I thought I would share one of my favorites.  Plus, I don't think I have it written down anywhere and I am afraid of forgetting it one day, which would be nothing short of tragic.

I feel the need to add the disclaimer that I have no idea where I originally saw this recipe, but it has been adapted just a bit from the way I originally remember it.  If by chance I got it from you, thanks!  Also, I do NOT eat regular chili, so if the idea of chili turns you off but you like Mexican-style soups, this is definitely for you.

White Bean Chicken Chili

 2 or 3 cans Great Northern Beans, drained

16 oz. jar of salsa

8 oz. Pepper Jack cheese

chicken breast, cooked and shredded

10-12 oz. chicken broth
Edited to add:  CUMIN, 1/2 tsp.  (kind of important here, duh!)

Cube the cheese into small chunks, combine all of the above in the crockpot, and simmer at least four hours on low.  Top with shredded cheese and/or sour cream and serve with tortilla chips.

A couple of notes:  I use a small-ish crockpot, and this recipe fills it up.  I usually do two cans of beans and maybe about 3 cups of shredded chicken.  I add the chicken broth last, using however much it takes to fill the pot, usually a little more than half of a 16 oz. box.  

I could seriously eat this stuff at least once a week.  If you try it, let me know!

Now tell me...

What's your favorite cool-weather recipe?

Want fries with that?

I gave up fast food for Lent this year.  Did I mention that here?  I am pretty sure I didn't.

It hasn't been nearly as hard as I feared it would be, though I haven't really lost any weight like I hoped I might, either.  To be fair, I haven't really been eating less or necessarily healthier, just no fast food.  This is really only a big deal for me because I eat out nearly every day for lunch.  I want to cut fast food out of that scenario, so that I either go somewhere and enjoy lunch, bring lunch to work, or come home and fix something quick.

(Obviously, my Lenten resolution is not necessarily related to worship or Biblical reasoning.  Fast food is not symbolic for sin or anything deep like that.  As Methodists, we don't place a lot of emphasis on the traditional "fasting" during Lent, but many of us choose to give up something anyway.  I am taking this opportunity for motivation to cut something unhealthy out of my life...that's my deep religious explanation!)

Anyway...the little experiment has been going well, and I have actually enjoyed eating at home more often.  It's kind of fun to challenge myself to find different things to eat.

Sundays are "feast days" during Lent, so it's considered a day to indulge in whatever you are foregoing.  Technically, that means I could have fast food on Sundays, but I find I still don't really want...which hopefully means I will be able to keep this up after Lent ends!

We typically have Sunday dinner with my best friend and her family, along with my mom and aunt.  This week, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather and our desire to be at home, and we grilled at our house after church.  We had a great time, and Addison and Mackenzie had a blast playing with Wyatt and Brenna.  I could get used to this at-home stuff!

Our cuties practicing their bubbles

Mackenzie

Mackenzie, again...Addison doesn't like to stand still these days

 

Addison playing in Brenna's carrier...she's a little obsessed with it!

 

Sweet Brenna

Blurry...but look how excited Addison is to be "holding" Brenna

Mackenzie "sleeping" in the carrier

Mackenzie & Brenna

Couldn't resist a kiss

Addison & Brenna

Mackenzie and her tricycle

Addison, trying to get her blanket arranged just right

Question for you:  Can you tell my girls apart in the pictures I post?  I am going to do a post soon with some of the differences, but I'm curious if anyone already has it figured out?  (There's no obvious trick to look for, by the way!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't sit down and thank God for all the blessings in my life nearly as often as I should.  There are too many good things to enumerate, but my most amazing family and friends are always near the top of the list.  I am thankful for jobs that allow us to pay our bills, a warm and cozy home, and more than enough food to keep us full (as evidenced by my waistline!).  I am thankful for the opportunity to serve a mighty God, who loves me beyond measure despite my many sins and shortcomings.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.   -Psalm 107:1

I am thankful for a devoted, loving husband who does everything in his power to take care of his family...as well as so many others in our community. 

I am thankful for the two very special little blessings who came into my life nineteen months ago and showed me what unconditional love really looks like.  I am thankful for every hug, every kiss, and every laugh I get to share with them, and I hope for many more years full of all those things and more.

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We will be spending our Thanksgiving the same way we have the last several years...serving food at our church.  A few years ago, we began a mission of offering a free Thanksgiving meal to anyone in our community who wanted to receive it.  We serve those who can't have their own meal, for whatever reason, as well as those who might be alone or might not have much family around.  Even those with large families who just don't want to cook...  We welcome anyone who would like to come and eat with us.  It is really a neat offering for our community, and I am proud that our church is the driving force for such an awesome project! 

We will eat a meal at the church with family and friends, then a later one with Jeremy's family.  He will have to work, but should be able to stop by and get nice and full while visiting with family for awhile.  All in all, I think we will have a total of FOUR Thanksgiving meals this year over a two-day period.  Cornbread dressing is probably my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal.  It's something we don't have very often, pretty much only at Thanksgiving, and it's one of the few foods I like to eat leftover.  I expect to eat many, many servings of dressing over the coming weekend.

How many Thanksgiving meals will you have this year?  What part of the meal do you look forward to most?

Anyone braving the crowds for Black Friday shopping??  (I am planning to look for a couple of things online...but no crowds for me!)

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday!  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Chronicles of a Sunday Dinner

Most of the time, I really, really enjoy living in a small town.  I do sometimes miss the things a bigger city has to offer, small-town living does have its benefits.

In the last few months though, I have discovered a quite unexpected downside to living in a small town with twin toddlers... In this small town, finding a restaurant that can accommodate our group for Sunday lunch (or 'dinner', as we say in the South!) has become a major ordeal.

Our usual Sunday group consists of my family (Jeremy, A & M, me, my mom, and my aunt) and BFF Kelly and her family (Kelly, her husband, and Wyatt).  So, a fairly large party, but nothing outrageous.  The important thing to note is that we need three high chairs for our group:  one each for Addison, Mackenzie, and Wyatt.  We start, and therefore, get out of church earlier than a lot of others, so we usually get to 'beat the crowd' to lunch.  So, we shouldn't be too hard to accommodate, right?  Harder than one might think, apparently.

Probably two Sundays out of the month we go to a barbecue restaurant about 15 minutes outside town.  This is an out-of-the-way place that is small and family-owned.  And yet, we have never had a problem getting a table large enough or having enough high chairs to go around.  That's one reason I love going there...the food is good, and we know we can all fit easily and comfortably.

Other Sundays, we rotate where we eat, but we find that many other choices get old quickly and we are running rather short on choices in this town.  There's a place with vegetable plate lunches, but not everyone is crazy about it, and to be honest, it's not the best food either.  There are a couple of Mexican and Chinese places, but we all have to be in the right mood to agree on those meals.  There are chain fast-food restaurants, but really, who wants that for Sunday lunch?  Some of the smaller, more unique places in town are not open on Sundays, further limiting our choices.

There is one chain sit-down restaurant in town (yep, I'll just go ahead and say it:  Ruby Tuesday) that has a good salad bar and should be a good choice for something a little different.  However...they lost our business a few months ago when we discovered they only have 3 highchairs for the entire restaurant.  Yes, THREE.  We would take up every high chair they have just with our partyalone.  And guess what?  The last time we went, there was another family with twins in there, leaving only one highchair for three babies.  How crazy is that?  Jeremy called to complain about it, and was basically told that the restaurant felt that three highchairs met their needs.  We haven't been back since.

This past Sunday, we decided to try something a little different.  It would only be my family, since our friends are staying home adjusting to life with their new addition (which, if you're counting, will soon bring our highchair requirements to four!), so we took the opportunity to go somewhere we wouldn't normally go with our "large" group. 

The first place we went was a place inside a large, old, Victorian-style house that has a yummy home-style buffet.  I knew the tables were a little crowded, as there's not a ton of room inside, but I knew they would have plenty of things the girls could eat, which I hoped would keep them occupied while we crammed in a good meal.  We got to the entrance and read the menu for the day's buffet.  It sounded SO good, and our mouths immediately started watering.  We tell the hostess we need a table for four adults and two highchairs, and guess what?  They have ONE highchair remaining, of their TWO TOTAL supply of highchairs.  About that time, another lady walks up to ask for a highchair as well.  I told her she could have it, since we would not be able to deal with one kid having to sit in someone's lap. 

Strike one.  We left and went outside to debate our options. 

We were very near another restaurant that is only open on certain Sundays, and this day happened to be one of them.  I eat lunch there sometimes, and again, I knew it was a tight squeeze inside, but figured we could make it work...if they had enough highchairs.  We walked the two blocks to the restaurant with Jeremy lamenting the wonderful lunch we had missed out on at the first place.  When we got inside restaurant #2, it was crowded and all the tables were full, but we spotted two highchairs stacked in a corner.  Score!  There was also no one else waiting for a table ahead of us, and we saw that a party at one of the large tables was paying their bill and all holding to-go boxes.  Obviously getting ready to leave, right?  Oh, but noooo...not with the luck we were having.

Mom and I stood inside to wait on the table to clear out, while Jeremy and my aunt took the girls out to walk around the sidewalk.  The group finished paying their bill, then settled back in to apparently catch up on all the week's gossip or something.  We waited patiently for five minutes...then ten minutes, while they continued to sit as if they had all the time in the world.  (Which I guess they did...they were all of a quite advanced age, and obviously had nowhere else to be on a Sunday afternoon.)

Eventually, Jeremy came in to check the status of the table, saying that the girls were getting tired and hungry.  With pointed glances in the direction of our coveted table, I told him that we might as well give it up and move on.  The older people at that table turned around to wave and smile at the girls, saying how cuuuute they were, but we just mumbled thanks and hustled them out of the restaurant...thinking, yes, we know they're cute, now get your butts up so they can be FULL and cute.  It was not my finest moment.

So, strike two.  Mom offered to take the girls home while Jeremy and I ate at the original restaurant, but by the time we got back to our cars, the place was packed and the line was out the front door.  We gave up and had a nice little lunch at Wendy's, complete with a frosty for dessert.  (My mom and aunt, on the other hand, drove to a new place in a small nearby town and had a wonderful home-cooked meal that they tried very hard NOT to rub in our faces later!)

Really, who would have thought finding a good place to eat lunch on a Sunday afternoon would be such an ordeal??  Maybe it's a sign I should start cooking at home more?

Nah, we'll just stick to our favorite little barbecue place that never lets us down!!  : )

Crockpot Potato Soup

Ah, fall...  Crisp, cool weather...  boots, jeans, and sweaters... pumpkins and mums on front porches...and the smell of a good meal in a warm and toasty kitchen.  It's that time of year, even if it the fall temperatures have not quite made it to Alabama yet.  I love the change of seasons, and one thing I particularly look forward to is a new selection of seasonal meals.  I freely admit I am not much of a cook, but I have a rotation of a few good recipes that Jeremy and I both enjoy.  One of our favorites during the colder months is potato soup.  I put it in the crockpot on Saturday morning, and we eat soup all weekend. 

We have already had potato soup once this year, and as soon as the weather drops below 80 degrees (which doesn't seem to be happening any time soon...), it will likely be making a weekly appearance.

I am a little picky about my potato soup...it can't be too creamy, but not too watery.  After searching many, many recipe sites, I put together a basic recipe that can be tweaked any way your family likes it.  And of course, it's super easy...a requirement if I am going to be cooking it!

Here is my basic recipe:

6-7 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 cans (about 28 oz.) chicken broth
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 tsp. parsley flakes
4-8 oz. cream cheese (Sometimes I use more; sometimes it's less.  It just depends on how thick and creamy you want the soup.)

Combine all ingredients except the cream cheese in crockpot.  Cook on high for about 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours, until potatoes are very tender.  Add cream cheese and blend well into the soup mixture.  (I use a potato masher, but leave some chunks of potato.)

We like to top ours with cheddar cheese and turkey bacon, with cornbread on the side.  Yummmm!

After writing about this delicious soup, I think I will be making a trip to the grocery store so we can have a big pot of soup tomorrow....

10-lb. Weekend

I feel like I might have gained about ten pounds yesterday, but it sure was a good day! 

Jeremy and I celebrated our fourth anniversary this week, and we got to have a date day all by ourselves.  We headed over to Huntsville, where Jeremy's parents met us to pick up the girls for the day.  They went to McDonald's for lunch and playtime, and Jeremy and I headed to Little Paul's, a downtown BBQ restaurant for lunch.  I had a delicious chicken-stuffed potato, and we enjoyed a relaxing lunch without having to retrieve sippy cups or shield our plates from little fingers.

Photo Credit:  Gigi's Cupcakes

After lunch, I talked Jeremy into stopping by Gigi's Cupcakes for dessert.  Oh. my. goodness.  Those are some serious cupcakes.  I wish I could have sampled everything on the menu, but I decided to go with the Strawberry Shortcake and Jeremy chose Red Velvet.  It was good, but VERY rich.  Seriously, I was almost sick by the time I ate half of it.  I don't even want to know how many calories were in that cupcake.  Still, it was a fun, indulgent afternoon treat and I can't wait to try another variety next time.  Orange Creamsicle is next on my list!

After Gigi's, Jeremy and I headed to an afternoon movie.  We saw The Other Guys, which was ridiculous and a waste of money (Christina, I should have listened to your warning against it!).  Still, it was nice just to be out watching a movie, without any interruptions. 

In case you haven't picked up on the theme of this post yet, of course I had to get popcorn for the movie...I think I'm physically incapable of sitting in the theater without it!

When the movie was over, we walked around Bridge Street, browsing in stores and just enjoying being out and about, kid-free.  Just before we left, I ran into a sweet blog friend!  Even though we'd never actually met before, Iana and I recognized each other instantly.  It was such a neat experience to meet someone I feel like I already know so much about, and her beautiful babies are even more precious in person!  I am such a bad blogger, though, I didn't get a picture of the occasion.  : (

We had a little time to kill before dinner, so we went to Hobby Lobby (Jeremy didn't last long before skipping out in favor of the Best Buy across the street!).  I have a craft project in mind, so I picked up the fabric and supplies I needed.  It was nice to browse without having to rush, knowing the girls will only last a limited amount of time in their stroller.  Now, if only I had the time for all the projects that store puts in my head....

Finally, we ended the night at Mikato, our favorite Japanese restaurant for dinner.  We haven't been since we were at the beach in May, and it was yummy, as always.  I almost convinced Jeremy that we needed Krispy Kreme donuts to top off the day, but thankfully, I came to my senses...or I might have actually gotten sick on the way home.

We picked up our sweet, sleeping girls and headed home.  Thankfully, they stayed asleep when we put them down and stayed asleep, despite having colds and runny noses (darn daycare...they only went TWO days and got colds!!).

Despite the 10,000 calories I probably consumed on Saturday alone, it was a great day, and I'm thankful to be celebrating four years of marriage.  We were all home and in bed by 10:00 p.m....my, my, how our idea of a good date has changed in the eight years since we started dating!!

Help! Mealtime Questions

I have a couple of questions for all of you mamas with toddlers...  My girls are quickly losing interest in their bottles and seem to prefer solid foods instead.  The problem?  The pediatrician said they should still be taking about 20-24 ounces of milk per day.  I'm not too worried about the numbers-they barely took 24 ounces at their peak of dependence on the bottle-but they are hardly taking 10-12 ounces some days! 

Here's how their daily eating pattern goes now:  They get a bottle when they wake up (they usually take at least 4-5 of the 6 ounces I fix), and this one is not much of a problem.  They get breakfast (baby food, usually..sometimes cinammon toast if I'm eating it) around 9:00.  Then, sometime between 10:30 and noon, they get a second bottle, of which they might take 3 ounces.  Around 1:00 or so, they get lunch (a veggie and yogurt), then another bottle about 4:00.  How much they take at 4:00 varies, but it is one of the better bottles of the day, and they will occasionally take up to 5 ounces or so.  They eat solids again around 6:00, then get a bottle before bed at 6:45-7:00...of which they eat almost none (seriously, like an ounce or two).  I realize that's a lot of food toward the end of the day, but I don't know how to better divide it.  They have not figured out the sippy cups yet, or I would try giving them a little in their sippy cup with their solids.  Should I try that anyway, using their bottles? 

Tell me, how did your babies' mealtimes look around this age?  How did you make sure they got enough milk once they started eating more solids?  I'm open to any suggestions or advice!! 

8 Months

Dear Addison & Mackenzie,

The fact that this month's update is over a week late is testament to how busy our lives are these days.  e are preparing to celebrate your first Christmas, and although you won't remember it, your daddy and I will treasure these memories forever.  Christmas with you girls is going to be so very, very cool.  I can't wait to watch you figure it all out over the next few years, as we create new traditions for our little family.

This first Christmas is going to be a little crazier than usual, since we have sold our house and will be moving just a couple of days before Christmas!  We didn't plan it to work out this way, but at least you won't remember the chaos our lives will be for the next month or two.  I am so excited that you will get to grow up in my hometown and go to the same schools I went to as a child.  I think you will love it there, although you will probably get tired of it at times and wish you lived in a bigger city where there is more to do and where everyone doesn't know your business all the time.  We all felt that way at some point, particularly during our teenage years, but I hope you will come to love our little town as much as I do.  I am very excited to cut out our 45-minute commute each morning and evening.  Your daddy is taking on a commute in this move, so remember to thank him for it when you're older!  : )

This last month has been full of fun and new discoveries for you girls.  You have become steady, expert sitters, and you can roll wherever you want to go.  You are both showing signs of getting ready to crawl soon, but I'm okay with it if you want to hold off a little longer, since I have no idea how I'm going to keep up with the two of you moving in opposite directions!  Food has become a major source of fun and entertainment for you both.   Addison, you particularly LOVE your food and you are very vocal with your appreciation when you are enjoying a meal.  You tried some new foods this month, including turkey, lima beans, broccoli, and small bites of my cinnamon toast-which you would devour if I let you.  As a food lover myself, I am having a blast introducing you to new and exciting tastes.  It blows my mind that you are now big enough to begin eating off my plate...soon there will be little hands reaching over for a bite at every meal. 

Your Auntie Laura was home from college to celebrate your first Thanksgiving with you.  We went to church, as has been the tradition in our family for four years now.  Our church cooks a meal and serves it free to anyone and everyone who would like to eat with us.  It is a real blessing to those in our community who have no place else to go, and I was so excited for you to spend your first Thanksgiving there with our chruch family.  Auntie LJ will be home again soon, and I know she is excited to spend some more time with you. 

I am looking forward to a lot of time off work during this upcoming month, and it will be fun to spend the extra days hanging out with my two best girls.  Some of my favorite moments come from the normal moments spent at home, just being with you.  All week long I look forward to Saturday mornings when I climb up in the recliner with the two of you in my lap and we take a good nap together.  The cuddles and giggles every evening when we get home are truly the highlight of my day.  We sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and go over all of our animal noises, and you two just laugh and laugh.  I love those moments...and I love you girls more than you will ever know.

Love, Mama