The start of Whole30

So I know it's been a while since I've posted to my blog, but I thought I would start again. The girls are two years and four years old now and the cuteness has worn off.… Just kidding. They are as cute as ever, but blogging about their cuteness hasn't come to mind lately.

Being on Pinterest, and Facebook, I've seen a lot of social media about diet fads, recipes, etc. Last year when Penelope was about seven months old I started a Paleo diet and lost 30 pounds! I was thrilled with the results, but slowly started going back to my old habits of eating processed foods, grains, carbs etc. after about a year and a half. I gained back about 10 of the pounds that I had lost. Then in March 2015 Jeff received a job offer in Worcester, Massachusetts! Needless to say I was thrilled to be moving back to New England; The place that I loved growing up in! I now live close to friends from high school and college, and my parents live about an hour away in Rhode Island. We've been loving living here in our beautiful, yellow colonial house, even though it took me a while to get used to it.

Anyway, going back to my health journey, in May 2015 I started doing Stroller Boot Camp with my friend Gilian and getting back into shape. I lost a couple pounds here and there, but it wasn't what I wanted, so I tried the 21 Day Fix. I did not see the results I was expecting; losing only 3 pounds eating healthy, clean foods, but including carbs as well. Iw as constantly hungry, tired and cranky. What the 21 Day Fix did teach me was that portion control is important, and that I  was including too much fruit in my breakfast smoothies. I also loved the 21 Day Fix exercise videos, with 30 minute doable exercises that left me sore every night!

So recently I've seen a lot of information about Whole30 on Pinterest and decided to try it out. It's basically 30 days of strict Paleo eating; including mostly vegetables, meats, and some fruits, as well as healthy fats. That means no alcohol, no dairy, no legumes, no cheating, and no weighing. It took me about two weeks to mentally prepare myself for what I was about to do. Once I got started the first week, I was pretty hungry and craving lots of sweets and carbs. I'm now on day 10, and feeling pretty good!

Since I cant weigh myself, I cannot get results so far on what has happened in that area, but I'm not sure I've lost weight since my clothes seem to be fitting the same. What I have noticed is my skin looks better, I have more energy, and I can focus better.

So now down to what I've been eating. I didn't want to have to prepare lots of fancy meals. When I did Paleo, Jeff and I found some easy yummy meal that we still make, so we have made a few of those. I looked on the Lazy Girls Guide to Whole30, and she gave some good ideas about making tuna salad, chicken salad, and having Lara bars on hand in case I didn't have anything else.

I've also included infused water, with lemon, lime, cucumbers, grapefruit, mint, and ginger in my diet and I love it! I've also been drinking Kevita, which is a kind of Kombucha, which I love! I include avocado and coconut oil in my smoothies every morning, although Whole30 says not to have smoothies, I believe my smoothies are compliant since they only include berries as a sweetener and no dairy.

For lunches it has been tunafish with pickles and apples sliced in it. I've also had chicken meatballs in lettuce wraps, and chicken apple sausage dipped in honey mustard. I've been eating lots of baby carrots and drinking tons of water. Coffee has been a challenge; I've tried it with Almond milk and it seems to be working. Although I've never been much of a coffee drinker anyway. For dinner we've made stuffed peppers with roast beef and mushrooms and onions, zoodles with meat sauce, turkey on top of salad, eggs with veggies, etc. last night I made Indian butter chicken with Collie flower on the side; it was so good!

The hardest part for me so far has been the after-dinner period; not having something sweet to snack on has been hard, as well as my nightly glass of wine! But so far so good! 

Full disclosure: I did have a couple alcoholic beverages on Valentine's Day as well as one small bite of chocolate soufflé. The Whole30 rules say that if you eat even one bite of noncompliant food, you are supposed to start the program over. I have decided to ignore that rule...sorrynotsorry.

I read this book instead of It Starts With Food, because I heard it has the same information.

My new beloved, Kevita! Only 5 grams of carbs in half the bottle. 

Drinking this stuff has definitely increase my energy, and I believe I see a difference in my skin. I love apple cider vinegar!

Typical lunch!

Breakfast smoothie: Half avocado, protein powder, coconut oil, Chia seeds, flax seeds, unsweetened almond milk, kale, frozen berries, ginger, and turmeric.

Indian butter chicken with cauliflower

Zoodles with meat sauce

And that's it so far. I would say I'm about 90% compliant to the Whole30 rules. I do have a bite of cheese every once in a while, I have had some alcohol, I drink smoothies and almond milk, and I have had some lattes with artificial sweeteners. But this is helping me be successful with the other rules on the program, so I don't feel guilty. Wish me luck on the weeks to come!

Live in the moment

We all went to church today for the first time in months...the girls went to the nursery and Jeff and I went to pray. As I sat there, looking around at all the families, everyone looking so nice, I thought about all my blessings. 

We are moving to Massachusetts next week. Jeff got a job offer from a colleague he used to work with. We're so excited for the move, but my mind is caught up in finding a house, applying for licensures and jobs, looking for a rental in case we decide to go that route, packing, etc...

I've been more impatient with the girls lately and I need to stop. I've been living for the future for so long now. When I moved to San Antonio, I always thought I'd be coming back to the Northeast. I never felt settled. Then we moved up to Dallas and it was "temporary" as well, so my mindset was always "soon we'll be gone from here". Now I've been thinking "if we have a third child..." My mind is filled with future endeavors and not focused on the moment. I keep waiting for the day my girls will stop crying and whining over every little thing and wish they would hurry through these exhausting toddler years. I think forward to when they finally go to Kindergarten...it's so wrong.  

I have so many blessings in my life. I need to relish every moment right now because I know I'll miss these years and regret not enjoying every exhausting moment. I read an article that was called "I wish I had never told her to hurry up". It was written by a mother of a pre-teen girl. She spoke about how the years went by so fast and she missed her daughters toddler years. I don't want to regret anything, especially these precious years with the two of them so small and sweet. 

So an update on the two of them: 

Penelope is 1.75 years old now and speaking in 2-3 word phrases. Very advanced! ;) She says "no pat me" or "no kiss me", and repeats the last few words of all of our sentences. "Where is the sugar?" "Sugar?" It's so adorable. She also copies all that Gwendolyn does and tries to be a big girl like her. 

Gwendolyn is a sassy, stubborn, fiesty, super-sweet, loving and caring 3 year old girly girl. Pink everything. I love this age because she's so cuddly. She has moments of frustration and will whine for too long, but the good moments are so amazing. That little smile with those perfect teeth and dimple; can't get enough. 

My girls...:) 

Baby quotes 10/2014

Penelope: 

"Ooosh" for shoes... I die every time. She looooves shoes!

Going bonkers for Wheels on the Bus- "Dow Dow Dow doooow" (all over town- obvio)

Signing "apple"- "Baaahpi. Baaahpi!"

Signing please all the time. 

Signing (panting) for dog. 

She loves animals- stuffed and live, and is not scared of them. 

Smiles at everybody.

Going to "sleep" anywhere (including the cold patio.)

Gwen: 

"You my sweetheart, mommy."

"I cried for you!"

Helping Penelope. 

"I'm gonna do ----, is that awright?"

"Ok, guys, settle down."

Sofia the First. 

Princess mania! 

Pink dresses! 

Penelope is 1 year old!

Sweet sweet sweet girl!! You are 1-year old, but still such a tiny babe to me. Your gentle, deep blue eyes are so expressive... your smile is contagious, and your cry continues to break/melt my heart. 

At 12 months:

You weigh about 20 lbs, and are average height. The dr says you are in the 42nd %ile for weight. You wear 12-18 month clothes, although you seem so little to me. 

You can stand independently for a while, and you walk while holding onto things, but are still very unsteady on your feet. When you stand, it blows my mind because you look SO little to be standing. A little peanut. Your feet are so tiny, I can't imagine you being able to balance on them. 

You eat everything now, and you've started to like your goats milk. You love yogurt, cheese, Cheerios, cottage cheese (your favorite!), strawberries, eggs. You want anything we're eating. Luckily no allergies.

You sleep very well now. Finally! You sleep from about 7:00pm-6:30am, with a 1.25 hour nap at 9:30 and 2:00. I'm looking forward to your switch to one nap a day...then you and your sister will be on the same schedule! That can't come soon enough. 

You're down to nursing 3x per day- when you first wake up, around 4:00pm, and then right before bed. 

You do this adorable smile now where you wrinkle your nose and show your teeth and it kills me! 

You love to point at everything with your tiny arm outstretched and your little finger!  I love it! 

At night, when I nurse you to sleep in bed, you finish and sit up, all sleepy and smiley with messed up hair...you love this time, just mommy and you. You point, and smile, and crawl on mommy. These are such precious moments. 

You're still so easy-going and really only cry if you're in pain. Not a fussy baby at all! How lucky are we? 

You still love to look at people out in public and smile at them...even if they aren't looking at you! It's so cute. 

You LOVE Mattie! Every time you notice her, you want to go over and see her. Mattie is still a little unsure about you. 

You also really love stuffed animals. You just want to hold them all whenever you see them. That sweet heart is so big! 

You now sleep with a blue bear and a blanket at night! Big girl! 

You're fearless and independent and love to do things on your own. You hate when your sister comes and hugs you because it stops you from what you're doing. You enjoy climbing- it's your favorite thing...climbing up on top of things and climbing off, and then climbing up again and again. I have a feeling the crib won't last very long! :) 

Words we would use to describe you: gentle, playful, sweet, independent, fragile, fearless, determined, beautiful. 

We are so blessed to have you in out lives, Penelope! We love you so so so much! 

Penelope is 11 months old!

My gentle, darling, sweet Penelope!  You're already 11 months old! Time has gone by so quickly, but you're still my little sweet baby. 

Penelope, at 11 months you:

Weigh about 19 lbs, and are wearing 12-18 month clothes (mostly hand-me-downs from your sister).

Can crawl and pull up to standing.

You're crying face continues to break my heart into a million pieces...but as soon as I pick you up, you usually cheer up.  Very validating. ;)

You're a little scared of the blender and immediately drop what your doing and start to crawl to towards me all panicky when it turns on (damn mommy and her stupid breakfast smoothies!)

Can now blow kisses (by holding your hand up to your mouth and licking it), and say "uh oh"- your first word! 

Still sleeping through the night: about 6:30 pm - 4:30 am, when I nurse you for 15 min and then you go back to sleep until about 6:00 (most of the time)...we went to RI together last week and now your sleeping schedule is all off! 

You nurse about 6x a day now, and drink two, 4-oz bottles and one 2 oz bottle when at daycare. At work, I pump about 9 oz now... Starting to go down. Weaning will start soon! Happy/sad...

You have your top teeth now! Four total teeth! 

You are so sweet and gentle and curious!  

 

Our baby is 10 months old!

Penelope, your smile is magical!

At 10 months (double digits now! You're practically a teenager), you:

Weigh about 19 lbs, and wear 9-12 month clothes. 

Can pull up to a stand, and you've started "cruising" a little. 

Can wave, play peekaboo, and will sometimes say "more" using sign language while eating. Whenever we say the word "bye", your hand shoots up and you start waving. 

Are finally taking longer naps...about 1 hr and 15 min, twice per day. The afternoon nap still varies and is often 45 min.

And you're finally sleeping through the night: about 6:30 pm - 5:30 am, when I nurse you for 15 min and then you go back to sleep until about 7:00 (most of the time)...

Nursing like a champ. You nurse about 7x a day, and drink three, 4-oz bottles when at daycare. At work, I pump about 12 oz, so I think your total intake right now is about 18 oz. 

You like to stand on your head while you nurse, too. 

You're eating more finger foods and can chew and swallow them without gagging/choking! 

You have two bottom teeth still, but those top teeth are coming soon. The gums up there look mean. 

You are so playful and love to laugh. I think you're going to be a little jokster as you get older. 

You were baptized on 4/26/14, and you were the star of the show. You were singing with the choir and "talking" to the priest (during his sermon)! The priest decided to cut his sermon short and do the baptism bc you were being impatient. Then during the ceremony, you kept kicking your little legs and wiggling around in my arms. You saw Papa in the crowd and yelled out to him. Everyone laughed and thought you were the cutest little thing. 

Now you're free of original sin! Don't mess it up, little one! 

Penelope is 9 freakin months old!

Why is time just flying by with you, little mamacita?

At 9 months you, 

Are about 18 lbs and still tall and thin. You're in 9-12 month clothes. 

You can crawl and will pull yourself up on everything. 

You are independent and love to explore, but you're starting to follow us around more. 

Are starting to show a preference for mommy at times.

You are taking longer naps, but have started waking up once a night to nurse. 

Say "da" so cute, while you look around with you eyebrows up. I think you think you're actually saying something! 

Smile so quick and easy! You look at everyone you pass in the stores, and if they smile at you, you instantly smile back! It's so gratifying...especially when your sister is sitting there giving them the straight face...

You crawl over to me when I clap my hands and say "come here!"

Your crying face breaks my heart every time. 

You go to "school" easily with no separation anxiety, and still take 4, 4-5 oz bottles, even though they want 3, 6 oz bottles. You get really tired when your there, but will only nap for about 30-45 minutes. 

At home you inconsistently nap from 45 min-1 hr, 15 minutes...90% of the time it's 45 min, 2x per day now. I'm really trying to get you on 2 naps per day instead of 3...it's so hard with three short naps! Why can't I have a baby who takes long naps??

You nurse about 6x per day, but only 5 minutes at a time- your so distracted by everything (especially your sister)!

You eat baby food 3x per day and still have trouble keeping solids (puffs that melt in your mouth) in your mouth. You still are swallowing with a tongue thrust, and will accidentally push food out of your mouth. 

We love you so much! You make us so happy!