Happy New Year. I know my last post was in 2011 and it's almost the end of January, but things have been busy. Our family has been settling in nicely to 2012 and have already began the count down to the end of school. So what's new in 2012? Read on..
Brandon has started back to his studying after a very brief hiatus. He is in Term 3 now and still going strong. Last weekend he attended his 13th residency, which leaves us 12 more to go. He still has many more months ahead, but at least he will be home more towards then end of the year than he was and that is something we are all so looking forward to.
I began working for the first time in almost 3 years. I am watching a 3 month old girl 3.5 days per week. Even though Brandon and I had planned for me to watch another since Summer was born I was worried things would be extremely hectic for at least a little while. Honestly, things are way more manageable than I ever could have imagined. The baby is so easy going. She loves to play with our girls, eats and sleeps like a champ and has just completely fit in with our family perfectly from 8-5 each day. I think our girls are enjoying having a little one around again. Caroline loves trying to show her the way of the world, I can't change a single diaper without Summer opening the tags for me (which has only resulted in a few accidents), and although at first Bella would throw herself on the floor waving her legs up in the air every time she saw me feeding the baby in "her" chair, she has submitted to the change and even handed me her bottle today when it was time to eat.
I am about to sign Summer up for another year of preschool. Bella's birthday is a little too late to begin in the fall so she will be at home with me for another year, but I don't mind. We just signed Caroline up for another season of violin and spring soccer. This will be the first year that she will get to play real games. I'm so excited for her and pity the poor little girl that tries to take the ball away. Caroline had her 100th day of school today, so only 80 more school days until I officially have a 2nd grader!
I think my biggest challenge for this year is to finally meet my goal weight. I hate to admit it, but I am still 10 pounds heavier than I was when I got pregnant with Bella, and even then I had 10 pounds more to go until my goal weight. I know what it takes to lose the weight. I log all my food in a spreadsheet to count my calories. I work out 5-6 times a week by alternating cardio with strength training. It works great, but it always seems after a few weeks I lose my motivation to continue on. I think my problem is that I have always let my trying to lose weight be a secret. Like people don't already know I'm overweight and if I mention I'm on a diet they will think differently of me. I think it will be great motivation to share with everyone my plans and hold myself accountable for the changes I want to make. So here we go:
1. Be back at my pre-pregnancy weight by the time Bella hits 18 months (11 pounds in 10 weeks)
2. Hit my goal weight by July (22 pounds total in 23 weeks)
3. Run a 10K - does anyone know of a good one locally?
OK, it's out there. Everyone knows my plans, so who's with me?!
