photo challenge: week five

חג חנוכה שמחה

(Happy Chanukah)

ezpz diy: repurposed stool

I needed a nightstand on my side of the bed. I don't have much space on my side due to the swing of the closet door. So I came up with the idea to repurpose a stool as a bedside end table.
I got this stool at Kmart. It's priced at for $24.99, but I may have gotten it on sale for $15.

A little spray paint and polycrylic.

Easy peasy!

photo challenge: week four

I think I've settled on Fridays for photo challenge posts.

gift of life

My son, Maki has been a gift to me in many ways. Aside from the obvious, one of the many gifts Maki has given me is, life itself.
I used to smoke cigarettes before I was pregnant. I was never a heavy smoker, and for that reason I used to tell myself that I wasn't addicted and that I could quit whenever I wanted. Well, funny thing is, I had wanted to quit for YEARS!!! But truth is, I was addicted and in denial. It wasn't until I was pregnant that I was able to accept that I was addicted and really needed to quit. I didn't need to quit for me- I'd had my chance at that, and clearly I wasn't enough motivation for myself. But I needed to quit for my baby. I knew this from the day I found out I was pregnant.
I would love to tell the awesome tale of how I found out I was pregnant and never touched another cigarette... but I'd be lying. What I did do was set a deadline. I gave myself two weeks to quit. Then extended those two weeks another two weeks. Then extended those two weeks a day at a time until finally, I had enough. I knew I was doing it again: lying to myself. I had been decreasing the number of cigarettes and eventually puffs per day I was having, and therefore allowing myself to smoke past my deadlines. I was so disgusted with myself. Me, who wouldn't even smoke around children, smoking with a child in my belly. It didn't make sense.
So one day when I got the urge to smoke, instead of heading out to have a puff I told myself, "I'm stronger than tobacco. This is the first thing I'm doing for my baby." And here I am, a little over a year later without even the slightest urge for a smoke, fresher breath and softer lips. I have Maki to thank for that. He was my motivation when I couldn't be. Quitting smoking adds years to one's life; he did that for me.

postpartum weight loss

One of my long held fears about getting pregnant was that I'd put on weight and never be able to get it off. I'm not much of a work out buff. I'm more of the damage-control type. I do enjoy working out, but my motivation is limited to when I'm tipping the scale too far to the right. During my pregnancy, I put on 60 pounds! {wow it's crazy just even thinking of it} I lost 40 pounds to birth and baby, leaving me 25 pounds heavier than my normal weight. {I had a 5 pound head start} I figured, I'd lose some by breastfeeding, and the rest I'd work off as soon as I healed from my c-section.
Well, as time went on, I realized and decided that weight loss wouldn't be a priority for a long time. I was more concerned with learning how to be the best mom to Maki that I can be. If that meant I'd be a little heavier than I'm used to for a little longer than I'd like, then so be it... the gym will be there when I'm ready. Now, that's not to say I didn't bemoan the body staring back at me in the mirror. Actually, to be honest, for a while I avoided full body mirrors. But anyways, my point is, I haven't actively been trying to lose any weight. However, the scale has tipped in my favor! Six months postpartum I'm down 20 pounds and back in my pre-pregnancy clothes. {bells ring and a choir sings somewhere on God's green Earth}
In a weird twist of fate, I have Maki's eczema to thank. It's his eczema which requires us to be on a gluten, egg and dairy free diet, which basically eliminates most of the usual suspects housing empty, hidden and excess calories, carbs and fat.
So, now that the hard part is done, it's time to add exercise to my daily routine. Even though I've lost most of the weight, my shape has changed and I'm a lot looser in places I'd rather not be. {namely, gut, butt and thighs}I haven't quite worked up the strength to be away from Maki yet, so I probably won't be making it to the gym anytime soon. But I've started this 24 day ab blaster as a way to get in the game. It's not much of a workout, but at least it's a start and I figure it'll help me to strengthen my abdominal muscles before beginning a hardcore workout.

I'd love to hear from you. What do you think? Do you enjoy working out? What are some ways you manage your weight?

photo challenge: pause! {update...week three}

So, I was trying really hard not to have to write this post but, I have to put the photo challenge on hold. I'm having an issue with my laptop. My Windows Explorer has stopped working and thus, I am unable to access any files on my computer. I'm working on resolving the issue; and when I do, the photo challenge will be back!

{UPDATE}
Well I was able to fix my computer! So here goes:

six month check up

Last week was our 2 year wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we took Maki for his 6 month well visit. Isn't parenthood sexy!

My guy weighs 20 pounds and  measures 30 inches long. Yay breast milk. He had his first set of vaccinations, as we're on a delayed schedule. He took them like a champ. Maki's such a tough little guy. 

photo challenge: week two

I plan to post soon, but in the mean time.....