If you have that song stuck in your head now, I apologize. There are worse Christmas songs out there to have lodged in your brain. Trust me...
...I want a hippopotamus for Christmas...
Back to the topic!
Christmas is creeping up on me rather quickly this year. I first noticed it while shopping, of course. Stores pull out their Christmas merchandise right after Halloween, it seems. My first reaction when I see all the red and green and gawdy gold (and glitter, dear GOD, the glitter this year!), is to cringe and supress all the Christmas tunes that immediately pop into my head. By the way, thanks Dad, for the hippo diddy. And then I start thinking about all the baking I need to do. So delicious... Then come thoughts of what to buy everyone. And then I feel Christmasy. Decorations don't usually go up until December 1st in our house, but this year we bought a new tree, so we figured we might as well put it up instead of leave it in the box for two weeks.
Don't get me wrong, though. I really do love Christmas! The best part for me is giving gifts, honestly. I can never decide what I want - there's just so much I could use or would love to have. Since I can remember, though, I've been taught that this time of year isn't about what you get, but what you give. The best part for me is seeing the reactions of recipients of my gifts. However, I've never been that great at choosing gifts for others. Ironic, no? Sometimes I hit the nail on the head. Other times... I miss. But that's okay, because it's the thought that counts, right?
This year, though, I really am looking forward to receiving some gifts. I've been feeling a bit drained on the giving this year, putting others first all the time, especially my son, that I feel like I could use a little spoiling. I deserve it, right? And just in case you're one of those people buying a gift for me, I will make it really easy for you. This blog entry is all about what I want for Cristmas. No hippos please! And don't think I'm being greedy - I'm listing ten gift ideas, only for variety, and so that I might still be surprized on Christmas Day.
Here we are, the top ten items on my wish list:
10) Gift cards. I love getting a gift card. It means I can go shopping! My favorite's are Chapters, Michael's and Sears. But Dollorama cards work, too!
9) Books. In years past, this would be closer to the top of the list, but I just don't get as much chance to sit down and read these days. Orson Scott Card is always my first choice, but I've been trying lots of other sci-fi/fantasy, too. Surprize me!
8) Baking pans. My collection has dwindled, and what's left is in poor condition. A bit of everything would be nice: cookie sheets, cake and bread pans, muffin tins. I like Betty Crocker or Baker's Secret.
7) Dishes. We could really use a new set of dishes. Corel, something not floral or square. Blues or white.
6) Towels. Or a gift card for somewhere I could get towels. Purple and gray.
5) Sheets for a king size bed. Or as above, a gift card to put towards sheets!
4) Christmas ornaments or decorations. Blue and silver in color. We really don't have a theme or style going.
3) A day at the spa. I've never had a spa day. Ever. Some company for this one would be nice, too!
2) A helping hand to clean and organize my house. I'm a horrible house keeper. Everything piles up and I get so far behind that I start to feel burried alive in my own home. Come help me yourself, or set me up with a maid for the day!
1) A day OFF. I know, I know, I'm a Mom, I don't get days off. But I really, really need one! No child, no chores, just 24 hours to unwind and just be Meghann, so I can be a better Mom!
Bonus Stocking Stuffer idea: Knitting/crochet supplies. Stitch markers, needle tip covers, cable needles, pattern books... All pretty cheap at Walmart!
And there you have it! My list of gimme gimme's. The last three are kind of "big" ones, I know. Any one of those would definitely make my day, though.
So tell me, what's on your wish list this year?
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thursday, September 12, 2013
A Never-Ending Story
And I'm not talking about a favorite movie from our childhoods. Or laundry.
No, this is about food. We're doing our best to eat healthier around here, so I'm always looking for new foods or recipes to try. This evening, we'll be heading out on a little trip with my sister and her family. Before we leave from here, though, the plan is to have dinner, so we're not trying to get settled and make dinner at the same time when we get to the cabin. I'm planning on making a cheesy chicken, broccoli and rice casserole, which I had hoped to make in the slow cooker.
Now, I'm a little new to slow cooker cooking. I've used it many times for stew and roasts, but I've never made anything else in it. I had no idea how or when to add the cheese sauce or rice, so I went on the internet to find a recipe or answers. Maybe I'm not very search-savvy, either, because all I could find were recipes that call for prepackaged mixes or condensed "cream of" soups. I don't have those on hand, and even if I did, I can't eat them!
Where, oh where, on this endless information highway does a person find slow cooker recipes that use real food?? Does no one take the time to prepare their own seasoning or sauces these days? And honestly, how healthy is a recipe that uses boxed, seasoned (salted!) rice and canned soup? Can we say, "Preservatives and Sodium much"? I thought more people were turning away from packaged foods... Judging by my unsuccessful searching today, I'd have to say I was way wrong.
There was a time when I did use a lot of canned soups for cooking, and would eat boxed macaroni and other packaged pasta dishes. But eventually, I realized that making food myself was so much better. It's more satisfying, for one, to look at your plate, and think, "I made that!". I still used canned tomatoes and veggies for certain recipes, but I'd love to get away from those, too. Some day, I hope I can be the Mom that makes spaghetti sauce from scratch (tomatoes and all!), with veggies I grew in my garden. First, I need to learn how to grow tomatoes. Another reason I don't like using seasoning packets and canned soups is that I really just can't. Being gluten-intolerant, "cream of" soups are out of the question (unless I want to spend $5 on a tiny box that really doesn't do much for my recipes...), and many boxed side dishes these internet recipes call for probably contain gluten, too. Finally, I don't like to use them because my food always ended up too salty. Once upon a time, I loved salty foods. Being more conscious about our health, I try to keep as much salt as possible out of our diet. And I'm not a fan of preservatives and ingredients I can't pronounce.
This topic could go off into all kinds of wild directions, and I really should get back to what I was doing.
Since I don't really have the time or ambition to do any further research today, I'll save that for another time. For now, I'll just be using more dishes than I anticipated, and make the casserole the old-fashioned way: on the stove and in the oven. Oh yes, and I'll also have to pull out the rice cooker, too. So much for an easy, throw-together meal!
Thanks a lot, internet. *sarcasm!*
No, this is about food. We're doing our best to eat healthier around here, so I'm always looking for new foods or recipes to try. This evening, we'll be heading out on a little trip with my sister and her family. Before we leave from here, though, the plan is to have dinner, so we're not trying to get settled and make dinner at the same time when we get to the cabin. I'm planning on making a cheesy chicken, broccoli and rice casserole, which I had hoped to make in the slow cooker.
Now, I'm a little new to slow cooker cooking. I've used it many times for stew and roasts, but I've never made anything else in it. I had no idea how or when to add the cheese sauce or rice, so I went on the internet to find a recipe or answers. Maybe I'm not very search-savvy, either, because all I could find were recipes that call for prepackaged mixes or condensed "cream of" soups. I don't have those on hand, and even if I did, I can't eat them!
Where, oh where, on this endless information highway does a person find slow cooker recipes that use real food?? Does no one take the time to prepare their own seasoning or sauces these days? And honestly, how healthy is a recipe that uses boxed, seasoned (salted!) rice and canned soup? Can we say, "Preservatives and Sodium much"? I thought more people were turning away from packaged foods... Judging by my unsuccessful searching today, I'd have to say I was way wrong.
There was a time when I did use a lot of canned soups for cooking, and would eat boxed macaroni and other packaged pasta dishes. But eventually, I realized that making food myself was so much better. It's more satisfying, for one, to look at your plate, and think, "I made that!". I still used canned tomatoes and veggies for certain recipes, but I'd love to get away from those, too. Some day, I hope I can be the Mom that makes spaghetti sauce from scratch (tomatoes and all!), with veggies I grew in my garden. First, I need to learn how to grow tomatoes. Another reason I don't like using seasoning packets and canned soups is that I really just can't. Being gluten-intolerant, "cream of" soups are out of the question (unless I want to spend $5 on a tiny box that really doesn't do much for my recipes...), and many boxed side dishes these internet recipes call for probably contain gluten, too. Finally, I don't like to use them because my food always ended up too salty. Once upon a time, I loved salty foods. Being more conscious about our health, I try to keep as much salt as possible out of our diet. And I'm not a fan of preservatives and ingredients I can't pronounce.
This topic could go off into all kinds of wild directions, and I really should get back to what I was doing.
Since I don't really have the time or ambition to do any further research today, I'll save that for another time. For now, I'll just be using more dishes than I anticipated, and make the casserole the old-fashioned way: on the stove and in the oven. Oh yes, and I'll also have to pull out the rice cooker, too. So much for an easy, throw-together meal!
Thanks a lot, internet. *sarcasm!*
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Toddler Beds and Dieting
There are two big things happening around here lately. First, Logan is now is a toddler bed. He seems to like it well enough, but there have been so many nights that he ends up in our bed, because he can slide out of his and climb up into ours on his own. Ryan and Logan sleep fine, but I'm usually up most of the night wondering if I should just get up, put a pillow under the sheets, and sleep on the couch for all the comfort I have. By morning, my back is so stiff that I'm a wreck the whole day. Short of locking Logan in his room, though, I don't see that there's much to be done. I will put Logan back in his own bed when he comes wandering in, but most times, Ryan lets him climb up and sleep with us. I feel like the wicked witch for insisting my son sleeps in his own bed.
I'm hoping, though, that today's purchase will help Logan stay in bed. I went ahead and bought a set of toddler bedding. At first, we figured we would just use the bedding we have, and layer the blankets in the winter. But the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if Logan would be more happy about having his own bed if he had some super-cool Hot Wheels stuff on it. So, I bought the $20 set from Walmart. I'm happy to find that the blanket isn't as thick as youth bedding sets. At least he won't drown in pools of his own sweat! I'm excited for him to wake up, so I can put the stuff in the dryer, and then make up his awesome new bed... so excited, I'm almost tempted to start the dryer right now! But I won't.
Instead, I'll... find something else to occupy my brain. Except for food.
That's the other big thing happening here. We're dieting. Not some fad diet, or specific diet. Just eating healthy foods, smaller portions, trying to stay off my butt more often than not. That last part is harder than it should be. I've realized that I am actually a fairly lazy person. I would much rather sit down on the couch and watch a movie, or snooze, when I have the chance, than do house cleaning or cooking. or even walk the dog. I'll sit and play with Logan, but when we go out to play, I'm the supervisor, not a participant.
Maybe I'll get up now, and try doing some yoga... yeah... yoga...
I'm hoping, though, that today's purchase will help Logan stay in bed. I went ahead and bought a set of toddler bedding. At first, we figured we would just use the bedding we have, and layer the blankets in the winter. But the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if Logan would be more happy about having his own bed if he had some super-cool Hot Wheels stuff on it. So, I bought the $20 set from Walmart. I'm happy to find that the blanket isn't as thick as youth bedding sets. At least he won't drown in pools of his own sweat! I'm excited for him to wake up, so I can put the stuff in the dryer, and then make up his awesome new bed... so excited, I'm almost tempted to start the dryer right now! But I won't.
Instead, I'll... find something else to occupy my brain. Except for food.
That's the other big thing happening here. We're dieting. Not some fad diet, or specific diet. Just eating healthy foods, smaller portions, trying to stay off my butt more often than not. That last part is harder than it should be. I've realized that I am actually a fairly lazy person. I would much rather sit down on the couch and watch a movie, or snooze, when I have the chance, than do house cleaning or cooking. or even walk the dog. I'll sit and play with Logan, but when we go out to play, I'm the supervisor, not a participant.
Maybe I'll get up now, and try doing some yoga... yeah... yoga...
Monday, July 29, 2013
Space...
There's not much personal space to be had when you become a parent. Peeing with the door open (or even with kids present in the room...), having a little, wiggly creature crawling all over you whenever you sit down, sharing every single piece of food... it goes on forever! This is yet another lesson I've been learning, and adjusting to. More so, now that Logan is becoming more and more independent. How's that for irony?
The more Logan can do for himself, the more he wants us to be involved with him. Playing with cars and crayons are his favorite things to do these days. Cars is a fairly independent game for him, but I need to watch where he's putting them. Fitting them under, between, inside and behind furniture is his favorite. Crayons and markers are definitely 100% supervised, and a joy, too! He's becoming quite the little artist, I'm so proud!
It also means he's getting into more "trouble", and starting to test more boundaries - hiding his cars in the sub-woofer and drawing on the floor with markers, for instance.
I love my son, more than I could ever express, but some days, the "play with me, play with me" and meltdowns are just too much.
Let me backtrack a little here. A couple of weeks ago, I ran out of my anti-depressant medication, and I've been forgetting to go get another prescription for it. On good days, I wonder if I really need it anymore. And then there's days like today - four hours of meltdowns from minute one this morning - when I'm pretty sure I should get my act together and get a refill on the happiness in a bottle. There's been more yelling and frustration around here than I care to admit in the past two weeks, and while I'm sure being out of my meds is part of it, I can't say for certain that this is the whole issue. I don't want to be one of "those" moms, always yelling and never getting anywhere.
So why am I yelling?! Because I've been with my son, 24/7 for who knows how long now, and he's getting on my nerves, and I haven't figure out a better way to deal with it. Well, not entirely true; I did come up with a pretty brilliant solution that made me wonder why I didn't try it before today... I put Logan to bed.
Yup, just picked him up, carried him to his room, and plopped him in there and walked away. The old "walk away and breathe" method.
*Inhale, exhale* It's much quieter around here right now, I did some dishes (which is oddly relaxing for me...), and I've had time to calm down myself.
When Logan wakes up, I'm going to give him a huge squeeze and apologize for yelling so much today.
And tomorrow, I'm getting that prescription refilled!
The more Logan can do for himself, the more he wants us to be involved with him. Playing with cars and crayons are his favorite things to do these days. Cars is a fairly independent game for him, but I need to watch where he's putting them. Fitting them under, between, inside and behind furniture is his favorite. Crayons and markers are definitely 100% supervised, and a joy, too! He's becoming quite the little artist, I'm so proud!
It also means he's getting into more "trouble", and starting to test more boundaries - hiding his cars in the sub-woofer and drawing on the floor with markers, for instance.
I love my son, more than I could ever express, but some days, the "play with me, play with me" and meltdowns are just too much.
Let me backtrack a little here. A couple of weeks ago, I ran out of my anti-depressant medication, and I've been forgetting to go get another prescription for it. On good days, I wonder if I really need it anymore. And then there's days like today - four hours of meltdowns from minute one this morning - when I'm pretty sure I should get my act together and get a refill on the happiness in a bottle. There's been more yelling and frustration around here than I care to admit in the past two weeks, and while I'm sure being out of my meds is part of it, I can't say for certain that this is the whole issue. I don't want to be one of "those" moms, always yelling and never getting anywhere.
So why am I yelling?! Because I've been with my son, 24/7 for who knows how long now, and he's getting on my nerves, and I haven't figure out a better way to deal with it. Well, not entirely true; I did come up with a pretty brilliant solution that made me wonder why I didn't try it before today... I put Logan to bed.
Yup, just picked him up, carried him to his room, and plopped him in there and walked away. The old "walk away and breathe" method.
*Inhale, exhale* It's much quieter around here right now, I did some dishes (which is oddly relaxing for me...), and I've had time to calm down myself.
When Logan wakes up, I'm going to give him a huge squeeze and apologize for yelling so much today.
And tomorrow, I'm getting that prescription refilled!
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Slow Down!
You were so small,
tiny,
no bigger than a doll.
You cooed,
you cried,
slept and snuggled.
I blinked,
and then you were bigger,
rolling and laughing,
smiling at me.
Not long after
you were up on your knees,
crawling and playing,
learning.
Far too soon,
you stood on your feet,
walking and running,
exploring the world.
You seemed so much bigger,
I could not imagine
how you would grow
even more.
So quickly.
Suddenly,
words were starting to appear.
Hi and Dada
Yow and Bababa.
And now I realize
I'm not ready
for you to grow up.
You are my baby,
and I will miss
all those long,
lazy
loving days
of just holding you,
playing with you.
It will be too soon
that you are grown.
If you could,
I ask,
please,
slow down.
I'm not ready
to fly through these days.
Let's just
slow down,
and play.
tiny,
no bigger than a doll.
You cooed,
you cried,
slept and snuggled.
I blinked,
and then you were bigger,
rolling and laughing,
smiling at me.
Not long after
you were up on your knees,
crawling and playing,
learning.
Far too soon,
you stood on your feet,
walking and running,
exploring the world.
You seemed so much bigger,
I could not imagine
how you would grow
even more.
So quickly.
Suddenly,
words were starting to appear.
Hi and Dada
Yow and Bababa.
And now I realize
I'm not ready
for you to grow up.
You are my baby,
and I will miss
all those long,
lazy
loving days
of just holding you,
playing with you.
It will be too soon
that you are grown.
If you could,
I ask,
please,
slow down.
I'm not ready
to fly through these days.
Let's just
slow down,
and play.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Horror Stories Beyond Birth
One of the hot topics among pregnant women is, obviously, childbirth. There are many, many beautiful childbirth stories out there that make pregnant women feel empowered, and confident about their upcoming birth. But those are usually not the ones they hear. Most of the time, they hear a horror story of pain and trauma. Studies (and common sense) tell us that these are not good for a mother-to-be. These horror stories can make a woman less confident in herself, and her body, which can lead to a difficult, and even traumatic experience. Who wants that?
But is it any different for mothers after birth? I doubt the new mother struggling with her newborn who never seems to sleep will benefit from the story of how you spent 15 hours rocking your baby because she wouldn't sleep otherwise. Think about it.
I'm writing this at 1am, without my glasses on, because I had a very long, very difficult day with my son today. He's had a low fever, and after only 8 hours of sleep yesterday night, would not sleep. I'm talking 18 hours of sick, tired, cranky 17 month old. Rough, hey? It was, and I let everyone know on Facebook, naturally. My friends and family were quite supportive, telling me I could get through it, and making helpful suggestions. Their support helped me get through my day.
Sadly, a cousin of mine was also having a tough time yesterday, with her 2 year old. The responses she received were less than supportive... "just you wait, 3,4 and 5 are no better!", "It only gets worse!" and so on. There were only a few who offered encouragement. It made me sad. Will her day be any better tomorrow? I certainly hope so. But she will have all those comments in her head, and how will they affect her mood? And how will her mood affect her boy, and in turn, the outcome of their day?
I know I've been guilty of it, and I'm sure I'll slip up once in a while, but I'm definitely going to watch what I say to parents who are having a bad day.
Even a simple, "this day will end soon" is worth a million times more to a parent than your tale of a similar experience.
I'll end it there, and let it sink in.
But is it any different for mothers after birth? I doubt the new mother struggling with her newborn who never seems to sleep will benefit from the story of how you spent 15 hours rocking your baby because she wouldn't sleep otherwise. Think about it.
I'm writing this at 1am, without my glasses on, because I had a very long, very difficult day with my son today. He's had a low fever, and after only 8 hours of sleep yesterday night, would not sleep. I'm talking 18 hours of sick, tired, cranky 17 month old. Rough, hey? It was, and I let everyone know on Facebook, naturally. My friends and family were quite supportive, telling me I could get through it, and making helpful suggestions. Their support helped me get through my day.
Sadly, a cousin of mine was also having a tough time yesterday, with her 2 year old. The responses she received were less than supportive... "just you wait, 3,4 and 5 are no better!", "It only gets worse!" and so on. There were only a few who offered encouragement. It made me sad. Will her day be any better tomorrow? I certainly hope so. But she will have all those comments in her head, and how will they affect her mood? And how will her mood affect her boy, and in turn, the outcome of their day?
I know I've been guilty of it, and I'm sure I'll slip up once in a while, but I'm definitely going to watch what I say to parents who are having a bad day.
Even a simple, "this day will end soon" is worth a million times more to a parent than your tale of a similar experience.
I'll end it there, and let it sink in.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
I Take It Back: A List of Things I Said Before Motherhood
1) "I'm not going to put things out of reach, because my kids won't touch things they shouldn't." Yeah. Right. For some reason, it's so much easier to teach other children not to touch your stuff. I guess your own kids figure it's theirs, too, so they should be able to touch it? In any case, I've run out of high places to put the books and breakables, and have had to resort to preparing myself (and bank account) to replace ripped paperbacks and damaged decor when my son is in high school.
2) "Just take the kid out of the store if he's acting up!" My sister tried explaining this one to me ages before I had my own son. Some days are just bad days. While Logan hasn't yet had a super-tantrum in the middle of Wal-mart, he's had days when he's grumpy as all get-up, and I just want to rush through my grocery shopping as quickly as possible.
3) "I'll stay at home and have lots of time for cleaning, cooking, baking and my hobbies!" It seemed to me that my sister was constantly doing something; outings, sewing, reading... I've often wondered why I don't seem to have the same amount of hours in the day that she supposedly had. Maybe it's because playing with Logan and keeping my house clean is more important to me than my own hobbies?** Or maybe I just suck at managing my time wisely? Nah... Let's go with the first one.
4) "We're going to use cloth diapers!" That didn't work out so well. I agree that it's much better for the environment, and baby. Not so good for my sanity, power bill or storage space. It certainly didn't help that Logan really hated them at first, so I gave up for a long time. Then, when I tried to use them about a month ago, I found the whole process so tedious and time-consuming, I gave it up again. I'll try again next time, but my sanity is more important to me these days. Sorry Mother Nature. And high-five to everyone who uses cloth!
5) "I'll take the baby and the dog out for walks every day." Nope. We're lucky some days if we even make it out to the back yard for more than letting Ria do her business. This wonderful weather is helping get us outside more often, but soon it will be too hot (for me) for most of the day. Oh yeah, and there's only so many weeks a person can ignore the piles of laundry and dishes and dirt before they become disgusting instead of cute.
6) "I'll read to my kids every day." I read most days, but it's not the kind of reading session I imagined, with my son sitting in my lap, hanging on every word of "Pup and Hound", pointing nicely at the pictures... It's more like me sitting on the couch while Logan plays and sort of half listens as I read Harry Potter out loud. He certainly seems to enjoy it, but it's not what I pictured when I promised to read to him every day.
7) "I won't use the TV as a babysitter." Let's face it, sometimes, when dishes just have to be washed, or you need a few minutes of "quiet" time, the television is a glorious invention! And I console myself with the fact that Logan doesn't just sit and watch it at this point (most of the time). He's usually just listening to it while he plays with his toys or harasses the dog.
8) "We're going to make our own baby food." Well, that went out the window, right along with cloth diapers. I couldn't be bothered to cook and puree fruit, veggies and meat myself. It was an awesome idea, but I found just mashing up whatever I was eating at the time worked just as well. Having very little freezer space to store homemade baby food didn't help, either.
9) "I won't lose touch with my friends." Sadly, being a mother takes up a lot of time, and I have lost touch with many people. If that's you, I'm sorry. It just means that when we do get together, there's more to talk about! Right?... Right...?
10) "I'll make time for a shower every day." Well, every week, at least...
**I am definitely NOT saying that my sister cared more about her hobbies than her children! It just seemed to me like she was able to get more done than I'm able to in a day. That's it, that's all, end of discussion!
2) "Just take the kid out of the store if he's acting up!" My sister tried explaining this one to me ages before I had my own son. Some days are just bad days. While Logan hasn't yet had a super-tantrum in the middle of Wal-mart, he's had days when he's grumpy as all get-up, and I just want to rush through my grocery shopping as quickly as possible.
3) "I'll stay at home and have lots of time for cleaning, cooking, baking and my hobbies!" It seemed to me that my sister was constantly doing something; outings, sewing, reading... I've often wondered why I don't seem to have the same amount of hours in the day that she supposedly had. Maybe it's because playing with Logan and keeping my house clean is more important to me than my own hobbies?** Or maybe I just suck at managing my time wisely? Nah... Let's go with the first one.
4) "We're going to use cloth diapers!" That didn't work out so well. I agree that it's much better for the environment, and baby. Not so good for my sanity, power bill or storage space. It certainly didn't help that Logan really hated them at first, so I gave up for a long time. Then, when I tried to use them about a month ago, I found the whole process so tedious and time-consuming, I gave it up again. I'll try again next time, but my sanity is more important to me these days. Sorry Mother Nature. And high-five to everyone who uses cloth!
5) "I'll take the baby and the dog out for walks every day." Nope. We're lucky some days if we even make it out to the back yard for more than letting Ria do her business. This wonderful weather is helping get us outside more often, but soon it will be too hot (for me) for most of the day. Oh yeah, and there's only so many weeks a person can ignore the piles of laundry and dishes and dirt before they become disgusting instead of cute.
6) "I'll read to my kids every day." I read most days, but it's not the kind of reading session I imagined, with my son sitting in my lap, hanging on every word of "Pup and Hound", pointing nicely at the pictures... It's more like me sitting on the couch while Logan plays and sort of half listens as I read Harry Potter out loud. He certainly seems to enjoy it, but it's not what I pictured when I promised to read to him every day.
7) "I won't use the TV as a babysitter." Let's face it, sometimes, when dishes just have to be washed, or you need a few minutes of "quiet" time, the television is a glorious invention! And I console myself with the fact that Logan doesn't just sit and watch it at this point (most of the time). He's usually just listening to it while he plays with his toys or harasses the dog.
8) "We're going to make our own baby food." Well, that went out the window, right along with cloth diapers. I couldn't be bothered to cook and puree fruit, veggies and meat myself. It was an awesome idea, but I found just mashing up whatever I was eating at the time worked just as well. Having very little freezer space to store homemade baby food didn't help, either.
9) "I won't lose touch with my friends." Sadly, being a mother takes up a lot of time, and I have lost touch with many people. If that's you, I'm sorry. It just means that when we do get together, there's more to talk about! Right?... Right...?
10) "I'll make time for a shower every day." Well, every week, at least...
**I am definitely NOT saying that my sister cared more about her hobbies than her children! It just seemed to me like she was able to get more done than I'm able to in a day. That's it, that's all, end of discussion!
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Potty Training: Day 1
I expect many, many accidents in the months to come, but by golly, I hope to have a potty-trained two year old!
Last night, during our bath time routine, Logan seemed aware of what "go pee" meant, and was able to stop and start (he started to pee on the floor, but stopped when I yelped in surprise, and started again when I sat him on the potty and told him to "go pee"). I'm not an expert by any means, but I have a feeling that's a good indication that it's a good time to start!
We've had the potty in the bathroom since we moved, and it's been part of our bath time routine ever since day one to sit him on it while the bath is filling. Half the time he'll pee on the potty. The other half, it's usually in the tub at the end of the bath.
This morning I decided it was time to actually start potty training.
There's already been an accident, of course. At least it was on a pile of dirty laundry, so there wasn't much clean up to do besides toss it all in the washer. Another dribble in the potty, and a dribble on the floor in the living room, and naked-time is over for now.
I'm not sure what this method is actually called, but I'm calling it the "Slow and Steady" method. We'll be incorporating potty-time into our other daily "times"; lunch time, nap time, and bath time for starters. And then on to potty-time before leaving the house, and then potty-time through the day at regular intervals.
As for rewards and such, for good potty use and accident-free days... We'll see. So far Logan seems happy enough with the celebratory "Yay! Peeeee!" and hand-clapping and dancing.
So, what method of potty training did you use, or employ at the moment? If you have any advice, you can feel free to leave a comment!
Last night, during our bath time routine, Logan seemed aware of what "go pee" meant, and was able to stop and start (he started to pee on the floor, but stopped when I yelped in surprise, and started again when I sat him on the potty and told him to "go pee"). I'm not an expert by any means, but I have a feeling that's a good indication that it's a good time to start!
We've had the potty in the bathroom since we moved, and it's been part of our bath time routine ever since day one to sit him on it while the bath is filling. Half the time he'll pee on the potty. The other half, it's usually in the tub at the end of the bath.
This morning I decided it was time to actually start potty training.
There's already been an accident, of course. At least it was on a pile of dirty laundry, so there wasn't much clean up to do besides toss it all in the washer. Another dribble in the potty, and a dribble on the floor in the living room, and naked-time is over for now.
I'm not sure what this method is actually called, but I'm calling it the "Slow and Steady" method. We'll be incorporating potty-time into our other daily "times"; lunch time, nap time, and bath time for starters. And then on to potty-time before leaving the house, and then potty-time through the day at regular intervals.
As for rewards and such, for good potty use and accident-free days... We'll see. So far Logan seems happy enough with the celebratory "Yay! Peeeee!" and hand-clapping and dancing.
So, what method of potty training did you use, or employ at the moment? If you have any advice, you can feel free to leave a comment!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Gimme A Break
Or a creative outlet!
For months, I've been itching to get my hands on one of my canvases and box of paints and just play around. I used to paint and draw every day, but it's been years since I regularly got creative. And it's been almost a year since I've done any painting at all.
I've been monkeying around with knitting and crochet, which has been wonderful; relaxing and soothing, and even useful! But it's not painting.
I used to tell Ryan that I felt sexy when I had paint all over my hands. Then something happened, and I didn't get into it like I used to. I didn't know then what triggered that bout of depression that killed my creativity, but now that I look back on when it started, I know exactly what it was. Bouncing from job to job, moving a lot, the stress of school and work, and the frantic planning of a wedding (which for me was horrible, because I really SUCK at planning even a coffee date...). That's probably enough to send anyone into a depression! In any case, there I was, falling into it, and losing my passion.
Even though I felt better once school was done, had changed jobs and was in the same house for more than six months, I didn't feel the same about painting or drawing. I started comparing myself to every other artist out there, and always, always thought, "I'll never be that good". What a horrible thing to tell yourself!
If I could go back in time, I would, and I would smack myself square across the face. That's all. I can't think of anything I would say to myself. I just hope that would be enough to keep a brush in my hand and the passion for painting in my heart.
So, for the past few years, I would try, and try, and try to paint, but I would always fail because I kept telling myself that I wasn't good enough to even bother trying. Even so, the urge, the desire, the need to paint has been growing. I still look at the work of other artists and marvel at their talents, but I've also been looking at some of my own work from the past, and feeling good about it. Not because I think it's amazing stuff, but because it felt amazing to create.
For months, I've been itching to get my hands on one of my canvases and box of paints and just play around. I used to paint and draw every day, but it's been years since I regularly got creative. And it's been almost a year since I've done any painting at all.
I've been monkeying around with knitting and crochet, which has been wonderful; relaxing and soothing, and even useful! But it's not painting.
I used to tell Ryan that I felt sexy when I had paint all over my hands. Then something happened, and I didn't get into it like I used to. I didn't know then what triggered that bout of depression that killed my creativity, but now that I look back on when it started, I know exactly what it was. Bouncing from job to job, moving a lot, the stress of school and work, and the frantic planning of a wedding (which for me was horrible, because I really SUCK at planning even a coffee date...). That's probably enough to send anyone into a depression! In any case, there I was, falling into it, and losing my passion.
Even though I felt better once school was done, had changed jobs and was in the same house for more than six months, I didn't feel the same about painting or drawing. I started comparing myself to every other artist out there, and always, always thought, "I'll never be that good". What a horrible thing to tell yourself!
If I could go back in time, I would, and I would smack myself square across the face. That's all. I can't think of anything I would say to myself. I just hope that would be enough to keep a brush in my hand and the passion for painting in my heart.
So, for the past few years, I would try, and try, and try to paint, but I would always fail because I kept telling myself that I wasn't good enough to even bother trying. Even so, the urge, the desire, the need to paint has been growing. I still look at the work of other artists and marvel at their talents, but I've also been looking at some of my own work from the past, and feeling good about it. Not because I think it's amazing stuff, but because it felt amazing to create.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Sunshine On My Window
With the chirping of birds, sprouting of grass and warmer days, we know spring is here! I think Logan feels it, too, because he definitely wants to spend more time outside these days. Our backyard isn't much more than a field of weeds with a big tree that drops more sticks than leaves. While a little boy could have lots of fun digging in the dirt, I have other visions of outdoor play-time for my son.
For the past few weeks, I've been on the hunt for a good outdoor play set, something Logan can climb up, slide down, and crawl over, through and under. My search has been in vain, though. New sets can range from $150 to over $300, which I'm not willing to pay. I know, they're huge, and awesome, but my wallet cries just thinking about parting with that much for a toy Logan will only play with for a couple of years. Used ones are no better, still costing from $80 to over $150.
Even smaller items seem to be over priced, for my liking. I'd love to give Logan a tricycle that I can push for now, and he can grow into. Once again, I'm looking at spending about $100! I think not! Used bikes all seem to be missing the push handle. This quest for outdoor fun has been anything but fun for me.
We've been resorting to cheaper, smaller items; balls, small sand toys, sticks, rocks and one-sided games of "tag" and "follow the leader", and blowing bubbles. Today I found some mini-soccer sets at a Dollarama, so I bought two, knowing that the cones will get lost and broken, and the dog will inevitably tear the ball apart. I also bought two other balls to play with outside, so I hope this will cover our backyard time for now.
As for climbing, sliding and swinging... We'll just have to go to the park like folks used to do!
I have to remind myself that Logan doesn't measure fun by the stuff he has. He measures fun by the things he can do, and the time we spend together. So what if I can't afford the cool outdoor play set this year? I can go get messy in the dirt with my boy, instead.
Soap is cheaper, anyway.
For the past few weeks, I've been on the hunt for a good outdoor play set, something Logan can climb up, slide down, and crawl over, through and under. My search has been in vain, though. New sets can range from $150 to over $300, which I'm not willing to pay. I know, they're huge, and awesome, but my wallet cries just thinking about parting with that much for a toy Logan will only play with for a couple of years. Used ones are no better, still costing from $80 to over $150.
Even smaller items seem to be over priced, for my liking. I'd love to give Logan a tricycle that I can push for now, and he can grow into. Once again, I'm looking at spending about $100! I think not! Used bikes all seem to be missing the push handle. This quest for outdoor fun has been anything but fun for me.
We've been resorting to cheaper, smaller items; balls, small sand toys, sticks, rocks and one-sided games of "tag" and "follow the leader", and blowing bubbles. Today I found some mini-soccer sets at a Dollarama, so I bought two, knowing that the cones will get lost and broken, and the dog will inevitably tear the ball apart. I also bought two other balls to play with outside, so I hope this will cover our backyard time for now.
As for climbing, sliding and swinging... We'll just have to go to the park like folks used to do!
I have to remind myself that Logan doesn't measure fun by the stuff he has. He measures fun by the things he can do, and the time we spend together. So what if I can't afford the cool outdoor play set this year? I can go get messy in the dirt with my boy, instead.
Soap is cheaper, anyway.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
A First For Me
Today, I had to do something I hope to never, ever do again. I killed a mouse.
Not just throwing away a sprung trap or dead mousey body. No, this was close to rodent murder.
A little back story (so you don't think we're messy, disgusting people living in a pile of filth...) - Oh wait, that was our neighbors! We live in a building that has four suites; two up, and two down. We're downstairs, and the family that lived across the hall from us for a few months were, let's just say the statement above pretty much sums them up. They brought numerous pests with them; bugs, rodents, and stench. They're gone now, but we are still dealing with the stink and pests.
About a week or so ago, Ryan and I were watching TV after Logan went to bed, and I saw a mouse pop its head in under the door, scurry a little ways into our living room, and then back out under the door again. A few days later, the mouse came out from under our stove. And then a couple days ago, we realized that it had found its way into the drawer where I was keeping spices and a few dry, bulk goods. We went out and bought some traps; the only kind left were these black, plastic ones you can reuse. Happily, you don't have to touch the mouse to get rid of it. Just pop that sucker open, and the mouse drops neatly into the trash! Well, we caught a mouse this morning. And one this afternoon. And another one ten minutes later...
This last little guy didn't get the clean death his brave buddies did, though. No sir, he went into the trap from the front instead of the side, and was paralyzed in the back legs. Of course, he tricked me by not moving, so I thought he was dead. As soon as I opened the trap, he started scrambling to find an escape route!
Of course, I couldn't just let him claw around in the trash until he either died or Ryan took the bag out (because I sure wouldn't carry a bag with a live mouse!). What else could I do? I opened the trap a little, and after a few tries, managed to catch the hairy pest by the head in the trap. But because the trap didn't close swift and hard like it would have normally, it didn't kill the mouse. I had to squish its head. Yep. I physically committed the act of killing this mouse by crunching up its skull in a mouse trap.
Now, why in the world would I share this story? Because it was awful! A mouse that's already dead in the trap I can deal with. The trap has done the dirty work for me. That is the first time I ever had to do something like that, and I really hope it will be the last.
Also, remember this story if you ever find yourself in the same situation. Leave that mouse where it is for a few days, just to make sure it's good and gone before tossing it. Or, just buy the disposable traps, and don't worry about it!
Not just throwing away a sprung trap or dead mousey body. No, this was close to rodent murder.
A little back story (so you don't think we're messy, disgusting people living in a pile of filth...) - Oh wait, that was our neighbors! We live in a building that has four suites; two up, and two down. We're downstairs, and the family that lived across the hall from us for a few months were, let's just say the statement above pretty much sums them up. They brought numerous pests with them; bugs, rodents, and stench. They're gone now, but we are still dealing with the stink and pests.
About a week or so ago, Ryan and I were watching TV after Logan went to bed, and I saw a mouse pop its head in under the door, scurry a little ways into our living room, and then back out under the door again. A few days later, the mouse came out from under our stove. And then a couple days ago, we realized that it had found its way into the drawer where I was keeping spices and a few dry, bulk goods. We went out and bought some traps; the only kind left were these black, plastic ones you can reuse. Happily, you don't have to touch the mouse to get rid of it. Just pop that sucker open, and the mouse drops neatly into the trash! Well, we caught a mouse this morning. And one this afternoon. And another one ten minutes later...
This last little guy didn't get the clean death his brave buddies did, though. No sir, he went into the trap from the front instead of the side, and was paralyzed in the back legs. Of course, he tricked me by not moving, so I thought he was dead. As soon as I opened the trap, he started scrambling to find an escape route!
Of course, I couldn't just let him claw around in the trash until he either died or Ryan took the bag out (because I sure wouldn't carry a bag with a live mouse!). What else could I do? I opened the trap a little, and after a few tries, managed to catch the hairy pest by the head in the trap. But because the trap didn't close swift and hard like it would have normally, it didn't kill the mouse. I had to squish its head. Yep. I physically committed the act of killing this mouse by crunching up its skull in a mouse trap.
Now, why in the world would I share this story? Because it was awful! A mouse that's already dead in the trap I can deal with. The trap has done the dirty work for me. That is the first time I ever had to do something like that, and I really hope it will be the last.
Also, remember this story if you ever find yourself in the same situation. Leave that mouse where it is for a few days, just to make sure it's good and gone before tossing it. Or, just buy the disposable traps, and don't worry about it!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Moments When...
...You step back and watch your son mimic you doing chores.
...You're holding your son as he sleeps.
...You realize just how big your little man is getting.
...You pack away "his" favorite jeans because they're too small.
...He eats a crunchy vegetable for the first time.
...You sit and watch your son as he learns how two things fit together.
...You find a way to let him "help" with laundry.
...He pees on the potty.
...He pets the dog gently.
...He calls you "Mom" for the first time.
...All you can do is smile, because you have a son.
...You're holding your son as he sleeps.
...You realize just how big your little man is getting.
...You pack away "his" favorite jeans because they're too small.
...He eats a crunchy vegetable for the first time.
...You sit and watch your son as he learns how two things fit together.
...You find a way to let him "help" with laundry.
...He pees on the potty.
...He pets the dog gently.
...He calls you "Mom" for the first time.
...All you can do is smile, because you have a son.
 |
| Photo by Ryan Schatz |
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Make It a Habit
For February, I had planned on doing more blogging. I just couldn't think of anything to write about!
I'm still not sure what today's entry is all about, but I felt I should do something, if only to keep up the habit. I know myself pretty well, and if I let something slide once, I'll never get back to it. Like putting crap away where it belongs. I'm horrible at that. I'll use something, and put it down in the first convenient spot, even if the proper place will only take a few seconds to get to. Sometimes that's necessary, for a moment, but there's always a chance to go put it away shortly afterwards. But I don't.
The other day I went around my living room with an empty box (which I've now labeled the "Elsewhere Box"), and gathered up all the crap that doesn't belong in the living room. Then, I went around and put everything in the proper room. Not necessarily in the right drawer or shelf, though. I got lazy. By the time I get all my spring cleaning done, it'll be time to get everything ready for winter! My living room is certainly less cluttered today, but it's still dusty and disorganized. There are papers to sort and put away, books all over the place (and of course, toys, but that's a given every day...), blankets and pillows, shoes and jackets... and two giant bags of recycling that are still waiting to get out to the curb.
I won't even go on to the other rooms right now. I'd be embarrassed!
I am rather proud of myself for staying on top of laundry this past week, though. Ryan helped me get caught up, and I've been able to keep it that way, doing a load every other day. Once a week laundry doesn't seem to work for me.
This seems to be following my goal of becoming a more organized person. I feel like I've been successful, at least a little bit, in that area lately, now that I think about it.
That being said, I feel motivated to fold the laundry I washed and dried this morning.
What do you do to keep your home organized and tidy? Any helpful, simple tips for a struggling housewife?
I'm still not sure what today's entry is all about, but I felt I should do something, if only to keep up the habit. I know myself pretty well, and if I let something slide once, I'll never get back to it. Like putting crap away where it belongs. I'm horrible at that. I'll use something, and put it down in the first convenient spot, even if the proper place will only take a few seconds to get to. Sometimes that's necessary, for a moment, but there's always a chance to go put it away shortly afterwards. But I don't.
The other day I went around my living room with an empty box (which I've now labeled the "Elsewhere Box"), and gathered up all the crap that doesn't belong in the living room. Then, I went around and put everything in the proper room. Not necessarily in the right drawer or shelf, though. I got lazy. By the time I get all my spring cleaning done, it'll be time to get everything ready for winter! My living room is certainly less cluttered today, but it's still dusty and disorganized. There are papers to sort and put away, books all over the place (and of course, toys, but that's a given every day...), blankets and pillows, shoes and jackets... and two giant bags of recycling that are still waiting to get out to the curb.
I won't even go on to the other rooms right now. I'd be embarrassed!
I am rather proud of myself for staying on top of laundry this past week, though. Ryan helped me get caught up, and I've been able to keep it that way, doing a load every other day. Once a week laundry doesn't seem to work for me.
This seems to be following my goal of becoming a more organized person. I feel like I've been successful, at least a little bit, in that area lately, now that I think about it.
That being said, I feel motivated to fold the laundry I washed and dried this morning.
What do you do to keep your home organized and tidy? Any helpful, simple tips for a struggling housewife?
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Foot Sandwich with Toe Jam, and Wonder Kid
That's right, we are now eating our feet after years of saying "I won't move my sh!t, my kids just won't touch it". Try as we might, we failed to produce a being that could understand things like "That's just to look at, not play with" from day one.
It's just another lesson I'm learning as a new parent, but it's one that is a little embarrassing to talk about. I'm finding that there really are things you just don't understand about kids until you have your own. Logan is by no means a spoiled brat, but he gets into everything! I finally moved the wooden box holding Mom's ashes because Logan dropped it and chipped a corner. The last thing I want to do is vacuum my mother up out of the rug... So, I moved it. I'm moving the books from our childhood today, because yesterday Logan ripped the cover off my Children's Treasury. We've run out of space on the higher surfaces for all of our decorations, and we are in the market for an entertainment unit with doors we can lock.
Before Logan, we did not want to be "those" parents at all. We wanted to have kids that just wouldn't touch "our" stuff. Little did we realize that to them, it's not our stuff at all. To kids, everything is fair game.
Not only are we moving our valuables up and away from tiny hands, but I'm trying to clean things up around here. Notice I say I'm trying... It's very difficult to get any cleaning done when I'm constantly turning around to say things like "Logan, put Grandma Rose down!" or "Stop stepping on the dog!", and to pull him off the wall unit or baby fence or the back of the couch.
I absolutely love that Logan is adventurous and fearless, though. He seems to learn things so quickly! (I'm sure every parent thinks their kids are geniuses...) And once he figures something out, he doesn't look back. He moves on to the next challenge with a huge grin on his face. We went to the pool last week. We'd only been once before, when Logan was about 6 months old. He seemed to love it then, and he really loved it this time. At first, he didn't want to put his face in the water, or float on his back or tummy, but after watching some of the bigger kids in a swimming lesson, he was jumping up and down in the water, splashing, and climbing into my arms so I could help him float on his tummy. I think swimming will be one of those things he dives right into (pun totally intended)! Lessons are definitely in order for this adventure!
It's just another lesson I'm learning as a new parent, but it's one that is a little embarrassing to talk about. I'm finding that there really are things you just don't understand about kids until you have your own. Logan is by no means a spoiled brat, but he gets into everything! I finally moved the wooden box holding Mom's ashes because Logan dropped it and chipped a corner. The last thing I want to do is vacuum my mother up out of the rug... So, I moved it. I'm moving the books from our childhood today, because yesterday Logan ripped the cover off my Children's Treasury. We've run out of space on the higher surfaces for all of our decorations, and we are in the market for an entertainment unit with doors we can lock.
Before Logan, we did not want to be "those" parents at all. We wanted to have kids that just wouldn't touch "our" stuff. Little did we realize that to them, it's not our stuff at all. To kids, everything is fair game.
Not only are we moving our valuables up and away from tiny hands, but I'm trying to clean things up around here. Notice I say I'm trying... It's very difficult to get any cleaning done when I'm constantly turning around to say things like "Logan, put Grandma Rose down!" or "Stop stepping on the dog!", and to pull him off the wall unit or baby fence or the back of the couch.
I absolutely love that Logan is adventurous and fearless, though. He seems to learn things so quickly! (I'm sure every parent thinks their kids are geniuses...) And once he figures something out, he doesn't look back. He moves on to the next challenge with a huge grin on his face. We went to the pool last week. We'd only been once before, when Logan was about 6 months old. He seemed to love it then, and he really loved it this time. At first, he didn't want to put his face in the water, or float on his back or tummy, but after watching some of the bigger kids in a swimming lesson, he was jumping up and down in the water, splashing, and climbing into my arms so I could help him float on his tummy. I think swimming will be one of those things he dives right into (pun totally intended)! Lessons are definitely in order for this adventure!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Restless Meg Syndrome
Today I'm having one of those "I should be doing something but I really don't want to do anything but I'd like to do something but I don't know what to do" kind of days. You know the day I'm talking about? The day when your To Do list is half a mile long, and you really don't want to do any of the things on it. But then, in your guilt-filled "relaxation", you want to occupy yourself with something, but you're not quite sure what it is you want to do.
My brain has been going around in circles today with this thought process. It's very tiring, and I really don't know what to do about it. And there I go again!
I call this Restless Meg Syndrome, or RMS. It's similar to Restless Leg Syndrome (when your legs feel all funny, like they want to move, but you're trying to sleep and it feels very uncomfortable and strange...), but it's all-over body and mind thing. It could also be called Restless Body and Mind Syndrome, to be more general.
I have a lot to do around here, from gathering information for taxes and calling various offices to keep my personal information safe after a mishap at Canada Student Loans, to folding laundry and putting away the piles of junk that gathered around my house somehow, to finishing a few craft projects and working on things for Logan's birthday party... But none of it sounds very appealing right now.
So, I will count my lucky stars that Logan has just woken up to save me from myself, and go play with him!
My brain has been going around in circles today with this thought process. It's very tiring, and I really don't know what to do about it. And there I go again!
I call this Restless Meg Syndrome, or RMS. It's similar to Restless Leg Syndrome (when your legs feel all funny, like they want to move, but you're trying to sleep and it feels very uncomfortable and strange...), but it's all-over body and mind thing. It could also be called Restless Body and Mind Syndrome, to be more general.
I have a lot to do around here, from gathering information for taxes and calling various offices to keep my personal information safe after a mishap at Canada Student Loans, to folding laundry and putting away the piles of junk that gathered around my house somehow, to finishing a few craft projects and working on things for Logan's birthday party... But none of it sounds very appealing right now.
So, I will count my lucky stars that Logan has just woken up to save me from myself, and go play with him!
Friday, January 4, 2013
The Meghann Treatment
It's a new year, with a new set of hopes for the next 52 weeks, and an updated list of things I want to accomplish: lose weight, see about buying a house, fix my back, and loads of hobby-related things (like knit myself a cardigan...).
Obviously, the biggest thing on my mind right now is to lose weight. I have so many reasons for it, too. Logan is a very energetic boy, and getting more so every day. It will be hard to keep up if I'm too fat and out of shape. He deserves parents who can take him to the park and play with him, not just watch. I'm also tired of having to shop in plus-size stores. The clothes look great on the displays, but not so great on me, no matter what anyone says. I'd like to be able to buy a pair of real shorts this summer, and not feel self-conscious about my thighs and the backs of my knees. Another big reason for losing weight is for the health of my back. Extra weight is no good for any back, especially one with a slipped disc, and two bulging discs. By losing weight, my back will probably start to feel a whole lot better, without surgery.
Even with all these reasons to lose weight, I still find it really hard to motivate myself sometimes. Just this morning, I was trying to come up with "good" reasons not to go to the gym today. "Ryan needs the car", and "Logan didn't sleep well" seemed good enough at 7am, but I knew they wouldn't sound as good later in the day. So, I got up, drove Ryan to work, came home to get myself and Logan ready, and dashed out once again to go to the gym.
And it felt great. Not only was the workout good, but I get a great feeling from the volunteer service I do there. I clean for an hour when I'm there, to get my membership fee waived every month. This morning, one of the personal trainers asked me which machines were going to get "the Meghann Treatment" today. "The Meghann Treatment?" I asked, a little shocked. "Yeah, we all notice what a great job you do around here, and how hard you work!" she said. That, even above the post-workout feeling, made it worth going in today.
Yesterday, my good friend Angela commented that I looked great. It felt so amazing for someone to notice the change. I don't see it myself until someone else points it out, so when I get those kinds of comments, it really goes a long way to boost my motivation to continue.
As I did my workout this morning, I thought about all those "Secrets to losing weight" ads you see all over the internet. The only real "secret" is this: You have to be patient, and persistent. Don't expect instant results. Realize that it will take time, and maybe more time for you than for your friend or sister, but you will see results if you keep going. Don't make excuses, they only fuel your guilt.
Nike really did say it best: Just Do It.
Obviously, the biggest thing on my mind right now is to lose weight. I have so many reasons for it, too. Logan is a very energetic boy, and getting more so every day. It will be hard to keep up if I'm too fat and out of shape. He deserves parents who can take him to the park and play with him, not just watch. I'm also tired of having to shop in plus-size stores. The clothes look great on the displays, but not so great on me, no matter what anyone says. I'd like to be able to buy a pair of real shorts this summer, and not feel self-conscious about my thighs and the backs of my knees. Another big reason for losing weight is for the health of my back. Extra weight is no good for any back, especially one with a slipped disc, and two bulging discs. By losing weight, my back will probably start to feel a whole lot better, without surgery.
Even with all these reasons to lose weight, I still find it really hard to motivate myself sometimes. Just this morning, I was trying to come up with "good" reasons not to go to the gym today. "Ryan needs the car", and "Logan didn't sleep well" seemed good enough at 7am, but I knew they wouldn't sound as good later in the day. So, I got up, drove Ryan to work, came home to get myself and Logan ready, and dashed out once again to go to the gym.
And it felt great. Not only was the workout good, but I get a great feeling from the volunteer service I do there. I clean for an hour when I'm there, to get my membership fee waived every month. This morning, one of the personal trainers asked me which machines were going to get "the Meghann Treatment" today. "The Meghann Treatment?" I asked, a little shocked. "Yeah, we all notice what a great job you do around here, and how hard you work!" she said. That, even above the post-workout feeling, made it worth going in today.
Yesterday, my good friend Angela commented that I looked great. It felt so amazing for someone to notice the change. I don't see it myself until someone else points it out, so when I get those kinds of comments, it really goes a long way to boost my motivation to continue.
As I did my workout this morning, I thought about all those "Secrets to losing weight" ads you see all over the internet. The only real "secret" is this: You have to be patient, and persistent. Don't expect instant results. Realize that it will take time, and maybe more time for you than for your friend or sister, but you will see results if you keep going. Don't make excuses, they only fuel your guilt.
Nike really did say it best: Just Do It.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)