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Biggest Loser: Power Walk, A Review

I really enjoyed this workout video! First of all, the participants are all average sized to overweight. For me, this gives me more confidence as I watch and workout. On other videos it's often very thin, already fit, people working out. I can see the benefit of the "leader" looking this way because you want to see it works, but for the rest it's nice to not feel like you're the only one who is trying to lose weight or get fit. 

My favorite, and the most challenging, miles were #1 and #3 led by Bob Harper. I liked the miles led by the Biggest Loser contestants as well, it made it very relatable, but I preferred the others, so I ended up doing each of those twice in the time I had the video. I did a total of 6 miles plus the cool down video. I could see enjoying this video for a good month. It was perfect for me to get started back into working out again. They have a 3 week suggested workout where you complete a total of 27 miles, just over a marathon. If I had been able to keep the video longer, I might have followed the suggestions and tried to complete it myself. 

On the water front, I still haven't finished a gallon --agh! So today I measured out to the 100 oz. mark on my gallon jug. Since I wanted to try to drink 100-128 oz. these next few months, I thought I'd try the smaller amount first and then work my way up after that becomes easier.

I'll let you know how it goes!

This week we...

Playing outside with big brothers!

I made my own salted caramel coffee creamer. It's delicious! I don't think I'll ever go back. 

Afternoon snooze with hands on knees. 

The boys opening their big brother gifts from Zoë. 

Their first Usborne books. 

Big Book of Big Animals for Levi

Big Book of Big Machines for Zeke 

To life...full of adventures in reading! 

21 Months Old!

Levi, you are 21 months old today! I'll do my best to remember the things you've been and are doing:

- You say milk like "milt." And hungry as "hungy" it's too cute! 

Upset because these shoes for a stuffed animal did not fit

- You love your little sister a lot! You give her lots of kisses, ask to hold her, and often ask, "Where's Roë?" (That's currently how you say Zoë.) We have to keep a close eye on you since you're big and often don't even realize how close you are to rolling or stepping on her. 

- You take one afternoon nap each day. At night you typically sleep from 8:30 pm - 7 am. You always need a blanket, your cup, Scout, and "baby bear" (which is actually a fox) in order to sleep.

I love sleeping pictures!

- You have started to enjoy reading books more. You especially like your Highlights Hello magazine. 

Checking out your new "Big Brother" gift from Zoë

- You are learning when and how to say "sorry" appropriately. 

- You enjoyed the parade in New Castle this past Saturday. Once you realized they were throwing candy at you, you really got into it. At one point you sprinted after the pile they threw and then went back for more because there were some leaves you thought were candy. You keep us laughing a lot, buddy!

- You can count to 12 although most of the time you skip the number 5 on your way there. 

- You're wearing 24 month and 2T clothes, size 8-9 shoes, and size 6 diapers

- If you're awake, you're moving! You've started to sit to watch an episode of Curious George or Octonauts, but 20-30 minutes is about your limit. 

Enjoying a little more "pool" time before summer's over - September 

- Your favorite songs to sing before going to bed are "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" because we've recently put out the turtle who lights up with stars at night. And "Jesus, Name Above All Names." Yes the Bill Gaither song. I'm not sure why, but both you and Zeke really like this one! 

Mommy helping with naptime while on bed rest -- July 4, 2015

The hat you chose for visiting little sis in the hospital

- You are finally enjoying hugs! You give them after you apologize and at bedtime and sometimes just because :) 

You came running into the hospital room, so excited to take Zoë home! 

At Misty's for special time with Mommy and Daddy 

You love holding her! 

- You are enjoying learning with Zeke during preschool here at home. 

I was taking a picture of Zeke for his first day of preschool, and you started smiling, really wanting your picture taken too!

Levi Olin we love you so much! You are our bull-in-the-china-shop boy! You are so much fun to be around with all your energy and laughter! I love seeing your personality develop and can't believe how soon you'll be two!

The Best Time is Right Now

Today is the 6 week mark of giving birth to Zoë. I've taken it easy so far, trying to get rest. When I do get out to walk, I usually go 1 mile. It may not seem like much, but I feel it is a good start. Considering I've been in the hospital, on bed rest, or post-partum for nearly 3 months, I feel slow and easy is best for my body right now. Plus, I've walked and recorded 10 miles on RunKeeper since I've been home. Which I'm reminding myself is better than 0 miles!

Hard to beat this view! -- On one of my recent walks -- Do you see the moon up there? 

Tomorrow is my check up, so I've placed a hold on my first workout video from the library--The Biggest Loser: Power Walk. I'll be happy to give a review once I've used it. I thought it would be a good starter video because from what I read, it's broken down into 1 mile segments, so I've already started doing that at a slow pace, now to see what they add to make it more of a workout. I'm looking forward to trying a new video every week for the next several weeks! I think I've picked out over 20 already so I should stay busy :)  

As I was thinking about how I might encourage myself and others to make small, healthful changes, I thought of 2 things. My 2 tips for this week are:

1) Having and Wearing workout/comfortable clothing.  

I think it's important (and I like) to dress nicely and feel good about yourself and I plan to keep doing so. But sometimes it's equally important to make exercise as easy as possible and that might mean wearing workout clothes for most of (or all) day. For me, sometimes I'll have a chance to workout, but knowing I'll have to take extra time to go change my clothes makes me reconsider my time and what I want to do with it. Maybe for me, right now, that means I'll wear workout clothes 3 days a week so I can achieve my goal of working out 3 times a week for the next 3 months. Another benefit of doing this is that I tend to be willing to play with my kids more when I'm not 'dressed up' because I'm not worried about ruining my clothes; this helps to burn a few more calories as well, rather than taking the sideline approach. Plus, what kids don't like their parents to interact more? 

2) Drinking water-- I admit, I have been struggling to reach my goal of drinking 1 gallon of water per day. In fact, I have not done it yet. I'm usually finishing my gallon in more like 30-36 hours. I don't feel completely defeated, but I really would like to do better. One of the things I'm going to try is adding a drop of essential oils to one of my glasses (in an actual glass, not a plastic cup) each day. Changing up the taste might give me just a little boost to drink more water and get closer to my goal. The oils I like to use are orange and grapefruit. And a great perk of grapefruit is that it helps to boost your metabolism!! Woot!

I'm hopeful that by implementing these couple of things starting this week, I might be more likely to achieve the 2 goals I've set for myself between now and the end of the year. What healthy living goal(s) might you set for yourself for the next 3.5 months? The year is not over. You can achieve your goals at any time, whether they were your New Year resolutions or brand new September goals.

To life... full of setting goals all year, not just in January!  

End of Week Recap

This week:

Monday-- Pop-Pop came to meet Zoë.

Tuesday-- Zeke started preschool here at home.

Wednesday-- Eating watermelon in a tent on the porch. Only 11 days of summer left!

Thursday-- We played outside a lot, but didn't take any pictures :) 

Friday-- Today was Zoë's due date. Here she is at 5 weeks and 5 days.

To life... full of ordinary days which make up the days we will look back on and remember and smile! 

One Month Old!

Zoë Kayte, you are one month old today! It has gone incredibly fast. The past month has felt busy in some ways, and slow in others. Here's what you've been up to:

August 2 -- just a few hours old! This was Mommy's first time to see you. 

So many tubes for such a tiny baby. Thankfully they came off pretty quick! 

One of our favorite nurses, Arla, giving you a bath! 

Not yet a fan of the bath

I just love your look in this picture!

We spent lots of time snuggling in this chair in the NICU

A few days with a feeding tube gave you a leg up on growing. 

First day in Mommy's room! New hat and blanket! 

Sitting up on Mommy's bed on your last morning in the hospital

In the van... going home! 

Your going home outfit was so big on you! 

- You were discharged from Valley View Hospital on Saturday, August 15. You were in the NICU for 12 days, in Mommy's hospital room for 1 day, and then discharged. After birth, you were on oxygen for just over 24 hours before being able to come off the C-Pap and stay off. You were able to stay in a private room for over a week because the nurses didn't think you liked all the noises and lights in the NICU. You only had to be under the bilirubin light for about 24 hours. You drank donor milk and some of my milk during your hospital stay.

Our precious family of five

A little like Levi, one sock missing already!

- You eat about every 3 hours (Mommy wakes you up if you don't wake up on your own). You are breastfeeding and bottle feeding right now. Most of it is Mommy's milk, but we occasionally throw in some formula which Mommy is learning is OK.

Bath time at home... getting a little better. 

And then again, not ;) 

We love this sleeper -- it says "Little Sister" and has a pink ruffle on the back! 

Good sleeper girl

Hanging out with the boys!

- Zeke got used to calling you "Rosie" throughout the pregnancy. While he still slips up sometimes, he typically always calls you by your full name, Zoë Kayte! Levi loves to check up on you, making sure you're doing ok, and giving you the little blue singing bear. He lovingly refers to you as "Oë". He loves to give you kisses on your head and he's even tried to hold you a few times.

More sleeping pictures because they're just too cute! 

- You are a decent sleeper. Really, this first month has been uneventful because you eat, sleep, and fill your diaper. I'm not complaining! It has been great to "ease" into having three children. These past two weeks you've begun to have a little more alert time, but mostly you're sleeping, which is good since you need to keep growing and get your rest. Your favorite place to sleep is while Mommy is holding you in the solly wrap. This will come in handy once all our helpers leave and Mommy is spending more time taking care of the three of you on her own. You also do fairly well in your swing and the newborn sleeper in your pack-n-play. You are doing better about sleeping through noise (aka your brothers).

Hanging out with Daddy! 

- You've had quite a few visitors in your first month of life -- Aunt Teresa, Uncle Paul, Miriam, Grandma, Great-Grandma Stenerson, Great-Grandpa Stenerson, and Mimi.

We are monitoring this relationship closely... 

Already spending lots of time in the solly wrap. One of your favorite places to be!

Tummy Time -- August 31

Little peanut on a big quilt! 

Zoë we are so thankful for your life! You are strong and brave and have been through much already in your first month outside of the womb. You have such beautiful blue eyes and dark hair. Your fingers and toes are long and you seem to be quite tall. You wear NB clothes -- some of them are starting to fit a little more snug (yay!) and plenty are still loose. We take you in for another weight check-up tomorrow so we'll see how your progress has been over the past 9 days. You cry some, but not too much, just enough to let us know you need something. Mommy has lots of fun picking out your clothes each day. Pink and purple and ruffles are more fun than I expected :) You have lots of cute clothes and people keep giving you more. I think you're set for a least the next 9 months! You are wearing disposable, newborn diapers for now, but I intend to start on the cloth diapers before long. We can't wait to see what this next month holds as Fall begins and we start preschool with your big brother, Zeke. You are so loved, little baby girl! Happy 1 month!

Love, Mommy and Daddy