About Violet

We're really digging on the river these days. And today we had the chance to take Cristian, and Violet had a wonderful time showing him the ropes. She loves being outdoors, she told me I had to go on timeout for singing in the car, in the morning she comes into my room and gives me a kiss on my nose and then proceeds to tell me she can "jump like a kangaroo mama!" and bounds out the door to steal a piece of fruit from the fruit bowl. She doesn't really like quiet time, but if I allow her to listen to one song on my phone before we bring it in she falls asleep effortlessly. When she wakes up from nap time she rubs her eyes and says "Mama, I am happy now". She doesn't like it when Cristian and I kiss, and physically positions herself between us and will proceed to kiss Cristian on the nose or cheek and say "Mama, I am kissing Daddy, not you!". So I guess I have some competition lol. She loves having her nails painted and taking long baths, she likes to sit and swap made up stories with me and they usually have something to do with "mama" eating or cooking. She loves to run and play in the dirt, but REALLY doesn't like it when her hands or face get dirty. The other day at the river she was worried about washing her hands in the water because the "fishies gonna bite me mama", but today Cristian showed her that's not the case and is over her fear-for now anyway. She loves fire trucks, and the other day while hiking a trail we saw a wood chipper at work and she was beyond excited. She also really loves laundry days, while I go downstairs to bring up the dried clothes she waits patiently on our bed and INSISTS I wrap her up in the warm towel, blankets, or clothes. The girl enjoys the small comforts, and we're happy to indulge her. Lately she's really into trying to comb her own hair and enjoys picking out her clothes for the day. Cristian and I were looking through old videos of her and she has the exact same laugh that she has now and we love it. She eats basically everything, some exceptions are radishes, fresh tomatoes, and cottage cheese. I'd say her favorite foods are fruit, in general, "baffles" (waffles), carrots, cheddar and feta cheese, and chocolate. She loves jumping on the tramp with her uncles, and hanging out with her aunts (on both sides) and I feel so blessed to have both our families so close for her. She keeps asking for a puppy and a bike. She's getting a bike for her 3rd birthday but a puppy......oh man, if only she knew how badly Cristian and I would like a dog as well. She also keeps talking about going "camping in mountains!!!", and hopefully this summer we get to do a little bit of that. She enjoys cooking with both Cristian and I, and reading books, and building forts, and all the good things 2 year old should be into. We love her so much, and she's growing up so quickly. Slow down you little twerp!



Real Talk// Healthy Resolutions

Alright so this last month I've focused really hard on being consistent with my exercise and our families healthy meals plans for 2015 and um..LIFE. My goal was to make it to the gym Monday-Thursday for cardio and incline training, Friday an Insanity workout OR recovery depending on how I was feeling, and Saturday weights. I did that but towards the end of the month I started adding strength circuits before my Monday-Thursday cardio, and added an extra outdoor workout (like a jog on the river walk, or around 1st dam) if possible on Tuesdays.

Our eating has improved greatly, though I still have lots of work to do on actually PLANNING out our meals for the week. I'm really bad at figuring out how to make leftovers into new meals, and the result was/is going to the store every 2 days or so which is really time consuming.

I need to get better at this, so if any of you readers out there have suggestions, I am alllll ears.

I've seen great results so far. In the last 4 weeks I've lost 8lbs. At first it really didn't seem like much, but losing 2 lbs a week is what most doctors recommend and 8lbs says nothing about how much better I feel, which is what I'm really trying to zero in on.

This month was good, but the next 4 weeks I plan on switching up a few things.
Cardio is great but I FEEL better when I'm doing weights, so I think I'll cut my cardio in half from one hour to a 1/2 and do a 1/2 hour of strength training instead Monday-Thursday. I'll keep Fridays and Saturdays the same.
The meal planning is still a work in progress.
And for the next 4 weeks my goal is to make it to bed earlier than 1am. Of all the things really hindering my attempts at getting back to the fitness levels I was before pregnancy, lack of sleep is #1 right now.

Along with these goals Cristian and I have been making healthier date choices. I don't think it's bad to go out to dinner or a movie every once in awhile but we've been making his days off and dates more active with hiking, disk golf, and even just walks outside. With the weather as nice as it is (and if it stays this way) there will be fishing, basketball at the park, and maybe some soccer to add to the mix. And if the snow comes back I plan on taking Cristian snow shoeing :D.

I think Violet may be a runner. Yesterday at the river (which is a 2 mile trail there and back) she ran, while I lightly jogged 3/4ths of a mile! Almost all the way to our spot where we throw rocks and sticks into the river under the last bridge. I was thoroughly impressed and certainly didn't push her to do so. She was just having fun, running, jumping over puddles, laughing. Yesterday was a really good day.

Anyway, she loves being outside, so our goal to do more of that has been really easy.
Also, in case I don't get on here before or soon after Saturday, have a happy VALENTINES DAY!

Tuesday Tinkering

Violet wants to do everything her daddy does. She eats his lunch on a daily basis, follows him around, wants to phone him constantly through his work days, and on his days off she is glued to his side no matter what he's doing; disk golf, playing Halo, or like this last Tuesday-fixing a few things on our car. She loves being involved and it warms my heart seeing him allow her to be a part of his day to day activities. And if Cristian has anything to say about it, she will know her way around a car like a professional. It's never too early to start!

A River Haiku

intense, light filled days

helped keep things in perspective

even in winter

 

 



Parenting In 3 Words

Parenting in 3 word phrases, co-written with Cristian.

I love you.
Dammit. Now what?
Why Violet why?
Don't do it!
You can share.
Don't eat that!
It's snuggle time!
Leave it alone!
Where's my socks?
Come back here!
Go for it!
Who needs timeout?
You're the best.
Give me that!
Did you fart?
You are beautiful.
Please get down.
Find your shoes.



...to be continued.....

Nightmare

Violet just had a nightmare that her "books were falling". Oh my sweet innocent child.