Eating Well

I have just recently finished reading the book "It Starts with Food" by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig. They have a website called Whole 9 and are the founders of the Whole30 which, in a very skeleton of a nutshell, promotes eating all whole foods (mostly meaning things with 1 ingredient, ie. beef, squash, coconut milk, almonds, lettuce... you get the idea) and avoiding grains, sugar, dairy, and processed foods. It is very informative and explains the science behind why you should or should not eat those foods. 

While I am not completing a Whole30 at this time (many of my friends are during this month of January) I have begun to incorporate more whole foods and meals. I figured that even though I don't feel ready for the Whole30 at this time, there's no reason to not start eating better immediately. Last week a couple of meals I tried were chicken chowder and pork chops that I put in the crockpot with apples, onions, and some spices. They were both delicious. This week I will be making chicken curry and sweet potato hash. 

As I was doing my grocery shopping today I looked at my cart and thought how different it looks compared to what I purchased regularly a few years ago, and even a year ago.

 For some reason I used to always think fruits and vegetables were so expensive I couldn't afford to get many. Now I've learned the price is worth my (and my family's) health and well-being; I can't afford not to get them. 

Two of my goals in January are to eat less dairy and less sugar. I think eating more whole foods leaves less room to eat the other less healthy foods. My hope is to make lasting change to my family's diet. I want to teach my children to enjoy foods that are good for them. Already after making vegetable soup weekly for the past 3 months they are eating it better! For me, that is a win! 

To life...and 2016 and whole foods! 

Bobby Pins

Sometimes...

on Thursday nights...

you decide you're tired of the constant ponytails. 

And picking long hairs off all your clothes. 

And that maybe you don't have to wait until your birthday to have 'fun' hair! 

So on Friday you call for an impromptu appointment and...

Voila!

 Have a great weekend! 

5 Months Old!

Baby Girl! How can it be? You are 5 months old today! Happy New Year! I am so looking forward to this coming year with you. All the fun times ahead! Here's what you've been up to:

- You rolled from your tummy to your back just this past week! 

- You are so alert and starting to enjoy the toys around you.

- We took you outside to play in the snow the day after Christmas. You weren't a big fan, but who can blame you? It only felt like 12 degrees when we were out there! You wore your new Christmas stocking hat. So cute! 

- I'm giving your tummy extra time to develop before I really start the food. But I did give you a couple "tastes" this month. Banana went no where so I just picked the minuscule piece back out. The mashed potatoes made you cry. No worries. I'm not in a rush :) 

- Yesterday (12/30) you were laughing a lot at Levi. It was so cute! He would walk by and look at you, and you would crack up! You like to lay on the trampoline and watch us go about our business. I think it helps you feel like you're in on the action too. 

- You drool a ton! I now have 3 scarf bibs for you and sometimes you'll go through all 3 in just one day! You like to make lots of bubbles. And your brothers are always concerned when there's "drips" coming out of your mouth :) 

- You had a nice first Christmas! You got new clothes and a few toys, which is really great timing since you're just starting to enjoy them now!

Christmas Eve 2015 

Christmas Eve

- You are sleeping pretty well. No real set nap times still, but you do like to take a longer afternoon nap if possible. Bedtime is typically 8 pm - 7 am with a few wake-ups to eat. 

- You keep getting taller! Most of your 3 month clothes are too short, and you must have long feet because typically the footie part in your pjs is too small. So you're wearing almost exclusively 3-6 month clothes! 

New Year's Eve 

Zoë Kayte, I can hardly believe the rate that life is clipping by. I'm doing my best to soak up these baby days and weeks because by this time next year you're going to be running around with your brothers and eating Christmas dinner! I love holding your hand when you're nursing and rubbing your head when you're upset. I love snuggling with you and feeling and hearing your little breaths against my ear. I love holding you close and letting you sleep as long as possible. I find myself just staring at your and thinking how beautiful you are and how grateful I am to have you as my daughter. I love watching you grow and learn and move and take in the world. I look forward to journeying with you through life, praying for you, listening, and giving advice (only when you ask for it, of course!;)). Mommy loves you very much! Happy five months! 

Another Year Has Gone By...

December is coming to a close and I have, once again, begun to reflect on my goals for 2016. In some ways, New Year's Resolutions seem futile and frustrating. Finding that at the end of the year I have fallen short or not completed each one. But I continue to press on because I would rather have created these goals and made baby-step progress than deciding that change is worthless and too hard. 

A couple of things I'm using as visual motivation--

First, I have recently started reading posts on this website: The Chic Site. It has been helpful and encouraging and motivating. Particularly the post I linked you to (above). I was reading about her bracelets one day and really hit home with the concept of a visual reminder. I, too, have considered a tattoo on my wrist (not necessarily with what's on this bracelet, something else; but the concept of having it available to see everyday) So Jeremiah surprised me with this for Christmas: 

I like it so much! I'm excited to have this visual reminder throughout the year as I work on my goals. 

Also I found this quote and it had quite an impact on me. Sometimes I try to do everything on my own instead of asking for God's help to change. Change IS hard and I need to rely on Him on the tough days, well even the easy days too!

Some of my goals for 2016 seem far off and even impossible. But what if this year I rely on God and big things happen? What if at the end of 2016 I'm a different, better version of myself? Why not me? Why not right now? 

What goals are you going to chase after in 2016? 

2 Years Old!

Levi, you are 2 years old today! Here are some of the things you can/are doing:

- You count to 10 easily, sometimes a little further.

You have quite a sense of fashion

- You wear size 6 diapers, mostly 2T clothes, although I'm starting to get out a few 3T things for you. 

- You love being around people. If you're not by Zeke's side, you're following me around like a shadow. A noisy shadow though :)

You were following me everywhere this day

- We refer to you as our "bull in a china shop"; somehow you can run in to just about everything, even if it's across the room ;) 

- You are pretty gentle with your little sister. You don't have the most control of all your body parts yet, so I have to keep a good eye on you so you don't accidentally hurt her. But you love her so much and are always making sure she's around and doing ok.
 

- You enjoy reading, all kinds of books and magazines.
 

- You seem to really enjoy music-- dancing, singing, playing the piano, drums, and harmonica.
 

- You are enjoying the snow a lot this winter! And you can get around a lot easier in your snow pants.

Your new under armour

-Your vocabulary has really taken off in the past month! You repeat nearly everything and are beginning to grasp concepts and sentences. You are pretty polite and remember to say "thank you" most of the time. I'm working on getting you to say "please" instead of "now" when you ask for things.

On the day of your party you came up from your nap, saw the cake, climbed up like this and stuck your hand in a cupcake. That became your snack. :)

Party shirt and deco! 12/12/15

Ready to blow out your candle.

First selfie

You really missed me when I was in the hospital this summer. One day you took a nap with my picture. 

Special time with Mommy and Daddy

Balloon Festival, September 2015

 
Birthday Interview: 12/13/15
Favorite Food: "How about... eggs!"
Song: "About... Clap Their Hands!" (The Trees of the Field)
Color: "That one!" Pointing to the blue pennant on his birthday banner.
Drink: Makes drinking sound... "water"
Movie: "How about... George!" (He keeps asking to watch "Bolt.")
Things to Do: "How about... George!" Anything else? "Snip, snip, snip." (Cutting with scissors, he really doesn't do this, but has been practicing.)

18 month photo -- much has changed since then!

- Like Mommy, you are very interested in stuffed animals. In the past few months you have wanted them sleeping with you. You take great effort in arranging them just so and putting them under blankets. Your imagination is growing and you say some funny and surprising things!

Eating butter -- like father, like son!

Levi Olin, you are our strong-willed, stubborn, sweet and crazy son. You have an exuberance for life and do everything "all-in!" You are tender and kind and strong and lovable. You have created your own place in this family and I cannot remember life without you! You love to eat and play and have fun. You notice the airplanes in the sky and changes we make around the house. Our personalities are quite similar and that makes me both crazy and proud. I cannot wait to see the boy you become; the things you'll do with your life. We love you beyond words and hope this next year is filled with more growing and learning and loving! Love, Mommy and Daddy 

Busy Season

Headed to town for Zoë's 4 month check up this morning! This weekend it's supposed to snow, we're having Levi's birthday party, and I think we're going to try to make some Christmas popcorn! Should be busy, but also lots of fun! Hope you have a great weekend! 

Our Christmas Tree 

Enjoying some melted chocolate 

...from the Christmas candy we made! 

A festive mustached-snowman Orange white chocolate mocha from Misty's!!

Saturday Snapshots, Siblings, & Snow

"Hold her?" 

Sometimes there are moments like this:

My beautiful dreamer 

Looks like it might snow today. We are currently watching Octonauts on the couch and I'm treating it like we're watching Saturday morning cartoons. It's been a week of adjusting to Daddy's work schedule, but I think we're going to make it! Happy Weekend!