Some Rambling Thoughts

I've been telling myself that I will start potty training Eden when she can poop in the toilet. The girl has been obsessed with the potty, and so I've caved and let her go a couple times, and she can which is awesome. Kael had no idea what the potty was at this age. Eden is 21 months, closer to 22. I'm just stunned, baffled, out of this world by this girl. Yesterday she wanted to show Derek that she could pee in her potty so she did. She came out with her potty to the living room and sat down next to Derek and sat there until she did her business. I was shocked. She was so determined to do this and she did. Then, tonight she went twice and before her bath she was determined to poop and guess what, after about 15 minutes she did! I can't use the excuse that she doesn't know how to poop on the toilet to not potty train her. So what do I do? Buy the girl more underwear and go for it, or just hope it fades for a while?

She got to go on a play date today. It was awesome. She doesn't get the whole sharing thing yet, but it is a work in progress.

I love my little family so much. Words can't even describe it. I mean I'm writing about my little girl sitting on a potty for crying out loud and feel like shouting for joy at this progress. I'm so excited for every single day. I'm excited for the little things. I'm excited for the big things. Some days it feels like Christmas from all the excitement they give me. Today Kael really wanted to call his Grandma on the phone. In the middle of the conversation he had to tell her about his train that Santa gave him for Christmas. He is still happy about Christmas and Santa. I love seeing his face light up. Then, he told Grandma that he wanted to come play with Grandpa and the toys.

And yesterday he was playing a game on the computer that had ice skating on it and he remembered ice skating with Grammy and said he wanted to go ice skating again with Grammy and mom and dad. It was so sweet.

So as I write my random thoughts, I just feel so blessed and so happy that I wanted to write about it.

Tomorrow maybe I'll write about missing Derek while he is in the same room as me. It's weird, but that is the life of having my husband in medical school. :) Till tomorrow.

Some thoughts on health and fitness.

So, lately I have been thinking a lot about weight. Not necessarily mine, but yes a little. Over my lifetime I have been told by many people that, "You are so lucky that you never have to worry about your weight". "You are so skinny, I'd give anything to have your body". "I'm so jealous that you can eat whatever you want and never have to worry about it". And most recently, "I hate you because you are so skinny". This person was joking of course, but were they really?

Honestly, thank you people, I know I am lucky to have such an amazing body from Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for my metabolism. I need to be happy when I am reminded these things so that I remember to thank my Heavenly Father more often.

And, honestly, I am grateful I don't have to be on the other end of the spectrum of comments such as I can't believe you haven't lost any weight...

Sometimes it is hard to listen to so many comments about my weight though.

The stupid world is so obsessed with weight. What the world needs to be worried about is our healthiness.

So... Here are my thoughts recently

MY BODY IS A TEMPLE.


I need to be concerned about what I put into my body.
It isn't just the normal Mormon thoughts of "coffee, tea, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, etc".
What food am I putting into this body of mine? Am I making good choices? Would eating this certain food be healthy if I was pregnant and trying to make a growing baby?

So, no I am not concerned about my weight. I am grateful for that. I am concerned about eating healthy and having a healthy lifestyle.

What people don't know about me is that I love to exercise and yet I hate it as well. I know it is good for me and my body, but it is a struggle. I love to eat yummy food. I love candy, cake, cookies, ice cream, and all the sugary things. We all know that sugar normally makes people gain weight. What is this doing inside our bodies. I know that I physically I don't look like anything is happening to me when I eat these things, but the same kinds of things must be happening in my body to some extent.

So, I am eating healthy. I am keeping my body clean. It is a temple and I would keep the temple clean and pure. I am watching what I put into my body. I am changing my life. This is important to me. So, when people make these comments to me they don't know that I am trying to eat healthy like them. They think that I don't "need" to eat healthy or watch what I eat, but I do! And I am! And, it is hard. I'm not losing weight, but I am doing hard things. I am eliminating sugar and carbs. I am eating healthy things like fruits, vegetables, meats, and nuts. I know I can do this. I know I feel better when I eat this way. I have more energy. I sleep better. I feel better. Taking care of my body is important to me, and it is what needs to be done.

Just try to be a little nicer the next time you think about someone's weight. You never know what they are going through. I'm not upset at the people who have made these comments to me. I understand that people are going through difficult situations and feel the need to comment and for the most part I truly believe people are thinking they are complimenting me on how I look, and for that I am grateful.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/
This is the link to the lifestyle that I am going for. It has the exercising that I will be doing and how I am eating.

Wish me luck because I am going to need it.

Keep Moving Forward

So Kael and Eden have been sick all week and it has been a LONG week. I've been reflecting a lot and here are some thoughts.

I am a blog stocker.

That looks weird. But yes. I am a blog stocker. I don't read the blogs that you would think would be helpful to a crafty stay-at-home mom, such as couponing, cooking blogs, sewing blogs, or how to decorate your house with no money. Nope. I don't read those blogs. I read people's lives. It makes me a true time waster and blog stocker. However, I'd like to think that reading other people's lives gives me a little incite to my own crazy life. I feel empowered by the way other people live their lives, and it makes me want to be a better person. I know that the lives that I read about are not perfect, and I know mine certainly is not. However, it's kind of like reading an inspirational quote for the day to give myself a pick-me-up. I think I sound lame, but oh well.

Anyway, this past week I read a friend's blog from here in the village. In summary it was about doing hard things.

Here's a quote because I liked what she said so much.

"We have all done hard things in this life. It is what builds our character. At times it is easier to crawl back into bed where it is comfortable, warm and familiar. It is this "doing hard things" that I wish to teach to my children. I don't believe that it is ever too early to teach our children the value (and fun) of work. There is not a time that is better than others to be an example of persistence and success. Or giving up and failing. (Which ever it is, our children see it.)

...

I often reflect on my own experiences that were difficult, but worth it. I know I can do hard things because I have done them. They are my life's journeys to who I am. And whatever is to come, I welcome the challenge and growth that will follow!"

Anyway, my point for posting this quote is because lately, life seems really hard for some reason. Maybe it's the lack of sleep, or what not, and I only have about 25 more years of this lack of sleep I would imagine before my kids let me sleep again, who knows. It was just nice to reflect and think back on the hard things in my life that I have accomplished.

Such as:

• Going to the Philippines for 11 months at 16 years old.
• Moving to college.
• Getting accepted to nursing school.
• Dated.
• Found the guy of my dreams, and married him.
• Gave birth to 2 beautiful children.
• Held church callings.
• Volunteered and worked in the emergency room.
• Learned from hard mistakes.
• Made bad habits into good habits.

The list can go on and on if I thought hard enough. The point is that if I didn't work for these things in life, I couldn't learn from them. Work and overcoming trials in our lives help us to grow and develop who we are.

So why am I not working harder?

Instead of laying in bed this morning, or grabbing my blanket and lying on the couch while the kids jumped on me, I got up. I got dressed. I played with my kids.

You know what?. I feel better today.

We've been watching a lot of movies because the kids have been sick. Toy Story marathons, Cars, and recently Meet the Robinsons. I love the quote from Disney "Keep Moving Forward". As long as we are moving forward and trying each day to work a little harder, and keep trying, I think we are going to make it.

Here are some awesome pictures of my amazing kids. We got vanilla pudding and mixed it with food coloring, and made some finger painting. It was so worth the huge mess.