An Incredible Year

I can hardly believe it's time to close the book on 2011.  You know when you read a really good book and you don't want it to end, you sit there almost lingering before you actually shut the cover, well that is how I feel.  I want to linger here in this [emotional] place just a moment longer. 

This time last year we had finally turned a corner in my pregnancy, for a while all was well and I finally felt safe (until 32 weeks when my swelling was out of control and fear crept back in).  In January we announced we were having a boy, in the months that followed we prepared his room, took a birthing class, had two baby showers...the list goes on and on....it was a wonderful year, so full of joy!  Yes there were hard times, between February and April V's family lost four members...I still can't wrap my head around that whole thing.  There were international disasters (remember the tsunami in Japan, seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?).  No year is perfect but I have wrapped 2011 in a emotional bow in which I will always fondly remember it as the year I became Liam's Momma.

I feel like everything has changed but at the same time nothing has changed, I can no longer recall what life was like before Liam and honestly I don't want to.  Oh it all sounds so cliche' but it's true.  Liam is really the light of my life, nothing comes before him (judge me if you will for that, I've been told my husband should come first and no he does not, I hope I am secondary to Liam in V's heart).  I always knew I would love my child but I didn't fully understand what that meant until he was in my arms....and I struggle to vocalize my love for him, I'd lay down my life in a moment for him.  I say it a lot but nothing in my life will be as important as being his Mom, nothing.

Thank you God for 2011 and the gift of this child, I feel like I have a much clearer understanding of your love for me now that I have Liam.  I can't want to see how he grows in 2012, it's going to be such a fun year!


Happy New Year to you and yours!

Much Love,
Jen

Pinterest Addiction {Recipe Links}

Hi, I'm Jen (Hi, Jen!)....and I am TOTALLY addicted to Pinterest. 


Oh my gosh, I've found some of the most amazing new recipes and cooking blogs! I'm never bored with making dinner anymore!  I've even learned several new tricks and have been able to spice-up the 'ol dinner routine! 

I've made:

• Baked Fajita Chicken
• Pizza Calzone 
• Shrimp Scampi
• Health (quick) Bell Peppers (I added turkey burger to these)
• A Breakfast Oatmeal Bake

and several other things I can't remember, and the list of things I want to make grows everyday.  I bet I have at least three new recipes printed out in my day planner! :)  If you are on the Pinterest fence, jump!!!! :)

Much Love,
Jen

Fitness Post

Hey Peeps!

I promise to post about Liam's first Christmas soon, but in the mean time I have posted a new fitness post over at Wild Flower Fitness, won't you please go check it out?

Much Love,
Jen

I'm Not Dead

Nor have I fallen off the face of the earth. :)   This time of year is always busy then you add to that an adorable 6 month old, work, marriage, my pinterest addiction (leave a comment if you need an invite!) and trying to figure out everything I need to do to get my personal training business up and running (and oh yeah work out cuz no one wants a flabby trainer) and YIKES is life busy and full...but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Liam is amazing and growing so fast!  He now eats two meals of "solids" per day, he's currently on green beans which he loves!  He's such a sweet and happy boy, last week at his 6 month well baby visit he was 17.6lbs, 26.5 inches these measurements have in between the 25th and 50th percentiles (which is on track and thus fine by us) and his head continues to be in the 75th percentile and as our nurse said "big brains!" lol!!  Liam loves to stand and has recently mastered sitting by himself, crawling is just on the horizon!  He's exactly on track for all his milestones.  About two weeks ago he met Santa and it was the most adorable thing ever, Liam had no fear as we handed him to the man who was dressed strangely, he just looked at him with interest and then tried to eat his beard! LOL!

Life seems to be moving at break-neck speed these days, before I know it Liam will have lived longer outside my belly than he did inside, that is hard to wrap my head around!  He's typically an amazing sleeper but last night woke up every 2.5-3 hours (teething maybe?) and ya know what?  I actually sorta enjoyed scooping him up and snuggling him as he fell back asleep, I just kept thinking that soon he'll be so big and won't fit into my arms the same way and someday he won't want to snuggle like this (most 13 year old boys don't want to snuggle their moms, right?) so I just sat there each time and loved on him and soaked in these special and fleeting moments.

In other news I appear to be holding my own with the whole auto immune disease, so far all signs suggest that I'm not ok *knocks on wood*.  I haven't lost any weight that I know of and I feel over all ok.  Another month until I see Dr T and find out if I'm correct or not.

That is enough to catch you up for now.  I'll try to up date again soon but likely won't until after Christmas so Merry Christmas to you and yours!

 Much Love
-Jen

My Fitness Blog

Hi Peeps,

Today is a proud exciting day for me, I have finally accomplished something I've wanted a long time....I am now officially a Certified Personal Trainer!!!  You've heard me talk about my love of all things health and fitness for awhile so I introduce to you my health and fitness blog: Wildflower Fitness.  I will not try to sell you anything, ever! This is my promise to you, I want to encourage you and be along side you on your health and fitness journey and if that means at some point you do pay me them wonderful, if not then hopefully the good karma will come back around to me one day.  I'd greatly appreciate it if you would hope on over and follow me there.

If you are my 'real life' or 'facebook' friend I will not be publicly discussing this until after the new year when I have my business license and liability insurance up and running, I need those things to function so until them mum is the word (plus I need to remove a few co-workers from fb since my boss won't be supportive).

Thank you for your continued support,
Jen

Summer Daydreams

I knew it would happen eventually, I'm already daydreaming of summer. 

I'm just not a cold weather girl, I don't enjoy any winter sports or being out in the cold for any length of time.  It's just not me, I much prefer spring, summer and fall.  I have grown more fond of the joys of winter now that we have Liam, seeing all these things with him for the first time is special beyond words. 

However I'm still me and daydreaming about warm spring and summer days (even cool fall nights).  I'm just not comfortable taking Liam on walks outside in this weather, no matter how bundled up I make him it's still only 20-30 degrees out there.  I long to go on walks, play in the yard (he'll be toddling up a storm by the time it gets warm here again, crazy!).  I'm ready for longer days and more [sun] light.  I'm not wishing time away, I don't do that any more but I do long for warmer weather and the adventures it brings.

Until then I lift my cup of coco and toast you and your families, I hope you are enjoying this season, both of weather and holidays!

Adevntures in "Solids"

For the last two weeks Liam has been on "solids" or mush as I like to call it! LOL!  First we did a week of rice cereal which he immediately loved!  Right away he knew exactly what that spoon meant, I offered it to him empty to see what would happen and he chomped down and was perplexed as to why it was empty, clearly he was ready!  After that we did squash which he didn't mind, I had to purchase this pre-made, it's a long story but I bought organic and I'm ok with it.  I planned all along to make his food so today we moved on to carrots from G'ma and G'pa's garden!
A few hours after we all had been up V decided to take Liam out to the in-laws to watch a college football game.  Since I have negative interest in football I stayed behind to accomplish a laundry list of things that needed to be checked off, among them was making Liam's food!  I already had a food processor and the necessary pan and attachment to steam the organic veggies I had on hand.  I'm really surprised how easy it was!  Depending on the amount of veggies I had I steamed them for between 10-15 minutes (until very soft) then transferred them to the food processor, I added about 1/4 cup of the water from steaming them and let the food processor do it's work.  Finally I transferred the mush to ice cube trays and stuck them in the freezer where they stayed all day.

It wasn't long before my to-do list was completed and my little family unit was all back in our home and Liam was ready for his evening dose of mush!  We put him in his highchair, bib and all and offered him his first bite...he's so cute, his little mouth was wide open to accept his mush.....and.....dislike!  He really doesn't like carrots!  He made the funniest faces and sip almost all of it out (even using his bib to rub his face)!  Yes I did keep offering it to him as I will for the next 3 night at least (it's recommended that you stick with each food for at least 3 days in case of allergic reaction so you know what your child is reacting to).  I won't force him to eat them but it's important to expose him to a variety of things, we'll see what faces tomorrow brings!

After Liam was in bed I took out the ice cube trays and transferred to freezer safe bags by veggie type for use over the next few weeks.  I can't wait to see what Liam thinks of peas and sweet potatoes!

Anyone else out there having similar adventures?

The Truth About Strength

I was messing around taking a break at work today and came across this on Pintrest (yes I'm addicted).  It's so very true, I wanted to share.

For the Love of Elephants

Just for fun; I love elephants, a lot.  Anyone who knows me [in real life] probably thought Liam's room would be jungle/elephant themed, actually I've gotten a lot of comments about how surprised people are that I choose something else.

Anyway, I found this cute picture and thought I'd share.  Happy Friday!

Parenting Well

Being a mother is the most  complex, most time-consuming and by far the most wonderful thing I have yet to do, or will ever do, in my lifetime.  As long as at the end of my life Liam tells me I have been a good Mom to him I will have lived a life worth while.  Being his mom is the most import thing I will ever do and it's so important to be to do it well.

Not to toot my own horn too much but in a lot of ways it comes naturally to me, it's easy for me to research topics and come to an informed decision and stick with it.  I don't question myself often nor do I regret any choices I've made (such as to work, use disposable diapers or stop breastfeeding at 3 months instead of 6).  Liam is clearly happy and healthy, this is all that matters.

 I've stood my ground on a few topics for the most part I've gotten nothing but support.  In fact I think the only person who questions me is V, but he questions me on everything...it's rather annoying, especially because he rarely researches anything relying solely on what some guy told him.  Not that V ever wants to follow some random thing he's been told but he usually brings it up, he typically agrees with whatever I've decided on.  (I always approaching him with a "what do you think" attitude,  he's just not set on any one way, when one is important to me he simply follows along). 

Liam may very well be the only child I ever get to have and I will do whatever it takes to do what is best for him no matter the effort it requires, such as making his food.  I can't wait to start making him some "solids" (more like mush) this weekend!  I purchased some organic asparagus, sweet potatoes, peas and carrots!  Pictures to come.

I so enjoy being a parent and being Liam's mom, it's the most distinguished title I will ever hold.