Resolutions...and a new Me?

It's that time already! I can hardly believe it, but Christmas is over, and my sis Renee is long gone as are Mike's parents. Luckily, Mom's famous potato soup is still here (or was until this evening) and my house is still festively decorated for the holidays. If only Renee was here to take it all down for me.

The past two years, 2008 and 2009, have been full of incredible change and life-altering moments with the births of our two sons, Mason and Max. We couldn't be more blessed or more happy to have them in our lives.

This year, I'm looking in a new direction as I think of new year's resolutions. While I'd never consider trying to "return" my boys, I wouldn't mind returning a few of the extra pounds they've left me with. I'm done having babies and ready to lose the weight and feel energetic again. This is why I've decided that 2010 is the year I take my body back!

I've come up with a formula to help track my progress and keep me motivated. My blog will continue to focus on my family but will also be the journal for my resolution.

Here's the deal:

I want to lose 30 pounds by January 1, 2011. This means losing 2.5 pounds per month. I've also broken this down into quarters since it may not always come off at the same rate. My quarterly loss goal will be 7.5 pounds. I've heard it's often easier to lose at the beginning, but harder once you get closer to your goal weight so I might have to try to get ahead of my schedule at some point in case that happens.

How I'm going to do it:

Plain and simple - exercise and eating habits. For exercise, I pay for a gym membership I am vowing to justify and a treadmill in the den I like to use. I'm going to have to be creative since I have a 6-week-old (the c-section is healing nicely) and a 20-month-old. This will probably include workouts of dancing to sesame street songs and pacing the room holding my baby at 2 am. As far as eating habits, I'm not one to go on fad diets or completely cut anything out of my diet (yes, including dessert) but I am a firm believer that natural foods and portion control are your best friends.

How I'm staying motivated:

As if trying on my pre-pregnancy clothes isn't motivation enough, I think it will be satisfying to have prizes for myself as I reach different levels in my weight loss journey. I haven't decided where these will be or what they will be...so stay tuned.

I'm excited to begin the journey to "Take My Body Back". I hope you won't mind my honesty in the ups and downs as I go, and I hope to hear from you along the way.

Happy New Year!

Today was my first outing alone with both boys where I also took them out of the car. Ha! Up until now, I've ventured out with them, but haven't been brave enough to take my screaming infant and curious toddler into a store where I also had to get something done. We tackled Costco, even if it was for only a few minutes, and I felt very proud. When we first arrived, I drove around for a while to find a good parking spot because I forgot mittens for Mason and it was only 20 degrees outside. Found a close one, then I got everyone in the new double-stroller (my first time using this too) and we made it safely inside. I was picking up some photos and then turned right around and was ready to go home. We got home in a chorus of crying from the backseat, but it was still a success! What an adventurous life I lead!

Welcome, Max!

We are so excited to welcome a new member to our family. Max Lincoln Murrill was born November 13, 2009 at 11:11am weighing 8 lbs. 11 oz. and measuring 21 3/4 inches long. It's been a busy 4 weeks as a family of four, but I will say that we are adjusting quite well. Mason has been nothing but sweet to Max and throughout the day goes over to him and strokes his head very gently. He also wants to hold him a lot which I find quite adorable. We went out to eat at Olive Garden last night for the first time since Max was born. It was our first time in that kind of restaurant with all of us and luckily Max slept the entire time and Mason had lots of fun and was mostly good. Ha.

For those of you who "tease" us that we need to try for a girl now, don't get too excited. I am 99 percent sure we are done having kids. Maybe you should ask me in 3 years, but I think we'll have our hands full with these two little boys. Plus, I'm not really into the idea of being pregnant again. It was wonderful, but I won't miss craving candy, bean burritos, or salads (not that it means I won't ever eat them again), horrible insomnia, being too hot all the time, not being able to sleep on my stomach, getting faint at work, waddling, tripping over the safety gate to get to the kitchen (oh wait, that still happens), and outgrowing my clothes every few months. Ok, so while those minor annoyances don't matter when I look at the beautiful face of my baby, there are actually a few things I'll miss. I loved feeling baby movements, knowing that a new life was beginning, being filled with so much wonder about who this person would be, and not worrying if my stomach stuck out after eating a big meal.

Now that I'm finished with that phase of my life, I suppose I'm utterly and completely entering the life of parenthood. I have a toddler who tells me when he's filling up his diaper (potty training advice, anyone?) and a baby counting on me for those middle-of-the-night feedings. I never thought taking a shower would be the highlight of "me-time" in my day.