Favorite Things

In life there are things that a person can find truly enjoyable. These things make your life worth living and give you hope. Here are a few of my favorite things. When I think of them it makes my heart warm.

Peter's laugh, God's presence in worship time, a warm bowl of soup on a rainy day, when my husband holds me right before i fall asleep, when Peter lays his head on my shoulder when he is tired, everything about the ocean - sand in my toes, cool salty breeze, the sound of the waves crashing, the colors of the water, cottage homes and their decor.

The weekend of August 17th my sister and I and our boys drove to Manzinita, OR, a small town on the coast of Oregon, to support my Aunt Susan in her celebration ceremony. We stayed at an amazing house that had vaulted ceilings, with floor to ceiling windows and the most beautiful ocean view. I enjoyed staying at that house so much. I want to buy that house! Ever since that trip I can't stop day dreaming about living at the ocean. And it has completely inspired me in a decorating theme for my house.

So where have I been, why haven't I blogged in so long? Well, for the past month I've been painting my kitchen cabinets white and preparing for Peter's One year old birthday party. It was a huge project for me but I love my kitchen now, and I am one step closer to having a costal inspired home decor.

Ode to my Hubby

It's been three years now that I've been married to this wonderful man and in some ways it feels like its been one and in some ways it feels like 10. I am so thankful that God paired me up with him. When we are together he brings out my adventurous side, my silliness, and my desire to do well. He has a way with calming me down when I'm anxious and bringing reality in perspective when I'm being crazy. He always sees the best in me and he loves the shape of my body (which I have spent my entire life hating, I guess there was a reason God gave me a big butt). He also has strengths where I am week... he brings stability in my moving habits and self control in my spending habits. But best of all he always has grace for me when I mess up. Yep, God knew what he was doing when He put us together. Here's to 50 more years.

Asian Babies

When I was pregnant I was soooooo excited to see how Peter was going to look. Being that he is half Asian and half Caucasian, be could have so many different looks about him. Then when he was first born he looked really Asian. He actually looked a lot like his grandpa Gordon. Over the past few months his looks have changed so much. It is really neat to watch his progression. I love that he has Asian eyes. I think that Asian eyes are extremely beautiful. I went through an entire phase when I was young, of desperately wanting and wishing I was Asian so I could have beautiful eyes and long black hair. I never would have expected to marry an Asian man and then be blessed with beautiful Asian children. OK, I know... I only have one, but I like to think of the possibility of having more.... Sometimes I think I'd like to have 5 or 6 children just to see how they would all turn out. I would love to have a little girl who has black hair and blue eyes or one that has curly blond hair and a really Asian face. A world of possibilities..... it's fun to think about.

Newborn

5 months

9 months

Monkey Sciencetist Baby

Peter has some fun monkey scientist habbits:

I first noticed that he might be a monkey in Dec when he found his feet. Everyone said that it is so fun when they find their hands; they'll watch them and play with them, wave them in front of their faces. Well Peter never did that with his hands but when he discovered his feet it was like finding his long lost friend. He would eat them and watch them, grab them, lift them up and talk to them. Even now, his feet are still special to him; he plays with his toys with his feet almost as much as he does with his hands. If a toy rolls out of his reach he will pick it up with his feet to bring it to him.

He has more monkey evidence: Peter loves to be upside down and swung around. If he is just sitting on my lap he will throw himself backward to be upside down. It is a for sure mood lifter. We are introducing solids to him now, go figure, one of his favorites (yep you guessed it) Bananas.

Peter is also a sciencetist like his father. When he is introduced to something new he has to taste it, shake it, see how heavy it is by lifting it over his head, and test out how gravity treats it. I love the fascination he has with things falling to the ground. You can just see his mind working as it falls to the ground. Now that he is cawling he goes from room to room putting every new thing he can, putting it in his mouth and moving to the next object to put in his mouth. He is testing for bite ability.

Peter testing out Grandmother

Trainer Days

For about 8 months now I have been trying to lose weight. It has been a complicated thing for me because I have been nursing Peter and the doctor has instructed me to keep my calorie intake high. Finding the right balance has been tough. When I got pregnant I was told to increase my cals by 300, and I thought right (because I know how many cals I eat). It was assumed that I knew how many I was eating already. So I thought ok I'll just eat more. Before I got pregnant I was probably consuming 2300-3000 (I have since found out that I only need 1600-2400 to maintane) cals a day. So during pregnancy I probably was around 2500 consistantly. By the time 9 months was up, (right before Peter was born) I had gained almost 50 lbs. Now if that were all losing the last 15 lbs wouldn't be so bad (which I have been trying to do since Dec), but before I got pregnant I had gained 40 lbs. Any time you have gained over 50 lbs there is no way you are going to be healthy. In March 6 months after Peter was born I was really sick of having no success, espically since I had gained 7 lbs on our trip to Vegas. I had reached the I'll do anything stage. Brian could see that I was continualy getting more and more desprate so he offered to give me his personal training sessons that he received as a Christmas present. And I found out that I could see a dietitian for only my co-pay, with my ins. I started going to the gym and learning how to eat right. Which I fould out that I didn't really know how to do. So far I have lost almost 10 lbs an average of one pound per week. It has been really slow, but I am doing it. At this rate I'll be there in a year. Now I have come to the end of my trainer sessons. It is time to fly out of the nest. And try to do this. I have learned some key things tough: 1) It is a healthy habit to keep a food diary and know exactly what you are eating 2) It takes an excess or deficite of 3500 cals to gain or lose 1 lb. 3) Fruits and vetables are good. 4) Fiber is good too. 5) You have more energy when you excersise.

Good times
Peter discovers his tongue
Mommy and baby

New Things

Everyday is new these days. What I mean is Peter does something new everyday. Today he got his first tooth. And he crawled (forward)! He has been rolling, crawling backward and army crawling forward for a while now. It is such an amazing awesome time for me. I love watching him discover new things and figure out he can do new things. He is also trying to pull himself up already. So many changes I can hardly keep up. My favorite times though are when he cuddles with me, which only happens when he is tired. Today Brian and I were walking through the park and Peter started singing (also a first). He was singing maamaaamamadadadddaaaataataa. And sticking his little hand out the stroller. It was so cute.