the cheese stands alone

Bring on the 2012

2011-12-31T22:46:00.004-06:00

Is there anyone else that enjoys New Years more than Christmas? There is much less planning, drama and stress. I'm the kind of person who is always thinking ahead, so I revel in the thought of what I would like to happen in the months to come. Some of my friends, even my husband tell me that dealing with the present is exhausting, too exhausting in fact to look to the future, they make me feel strange for being this way, but I find joy in it, so I think it's a good thing.

This is by far my most memorable New Years Eve day - I ran my first race, a 5k, which happened to be right in my own neighborhood. I never thought I would be capable of running in any race, not even 8 or 9 months ago, but as my goal to lose weight, eat healthy and feel better in 2011 came to fruition, I found myself with a strong desire to run and experience intense exercise. It was actually my own little "rally to restore sanity" - I begged my husband to buy me a good jogging stroller telling him that it would be used more than he could ever imagine. He told my MIL and she asked my BIL and SIL if they still had theirs and lucky for us they did. Each day this summer (mostly in triple digit heat) I began my running. I would run in the afternoons when I really needed it most after caring for two kids all day. Both children really seemed to enjoy it too, I just made sure they had plenty of water to drink and sometimes I bribed them with snacks. It wasn't really all that long when the weather cooled down and I realized that I could run 6.5 miles without even stopping. I learned that I run much better in minimalist style footwear and have not experienced any injuries in my new endeavor.

I was a little nervous about running in a race, I'll freely admit it. What if I finished last? What if I was removed from the race? I am by no means a fast runner but I would like to get a respectable result. I'm so happy to have had such a positive experience today and have achieved a personal best of 10:15 pace for all 3 miles. It's good to have the first race under my belt and another one to look forward to tomorrow when I start 2012 off right!

It's Easy to Make Your own (SCD Compliant) Yogurt!

2011-11-08T15:45:00.001-06:00

Not long ago, I bought the most amazing book ever - Breaking the Vicious Cycle. I implemented many of the protocols in an effort to begin healing my intestines which have been through the ringer. All the advice is scientifically backed and brilliant - but there were 2 things I had yet to do: Locate dry curd cottage cheese and buy a yogurt maker to make yogurt. So, I did both last week. I LOVE the dry curd cottage cheese, also known as farmers cheese and I LOVE making my own yogurt. I cannot tell you the last time I ate as much yogurt as I wanted and did not suffer the consequences afterwards. Prior to making my own yogurt I thought the task would be daunting, much too difficult for me. But in reality, it is so simple, any one can do it. I created a Youtube video in the hopes to inspire others to take the plunge and try it to. YOU CAN enjoy yogurt again, you'll just have to make it yourself!

New Laptop

2011-10-30T22:14:00.000-05:00

Back to posting. This time with a new laptop. I can't believe how much I've missed the TAB key (Yes, I'm using a PC). My old Mac desktop still looked cool, but no matter how hard I tried it was not compatible with the iPhone 4. It also sucked at uploading photos to Facebook, so I had to use my husbands Macbook. I have yet to try many of these tasks with my new PC, but it has got to be more efficient than my old desktop.

A lot of things have happened since I last posted.   I started the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, then stopped (and became ill). I have realized that SCD and GAPS are the way to go for me in order to heal. ALL grains, even Gluten free grains cause me agony and pain.   I can do really well for a while, and I'll feel so awesome, and then I will slip up and have something like gluten free pizza and BAM! Pain!.   So now I know what I need to do, it's just a matter of sticking to it.

My running is going fantastic! I bought my first pair of minimalist running shoes (transition shoes).   My first run was 3 miles and my calves were sore for 4 days. I was walking like an old lady, lit was crazy.   Nothing that I couldn't handle though. I think I will take it much easier next time I run though.

My baby, is now WALKING!   The time has literally flown by. He is the sweetest little boy, who gets into absolutely EVERYTHING. I especially love when I come home and he runs towards me with a big smile on his face.   It's a great feeling, I am so fortunate to have him in my life.

My daughter is now able to tell me what she wants, and what she likes and what she doesn't like. She loves cookies, gummy bears and bunny crackers. I really need to fix this, it's a bad situation. I keep telling her we are going to do GAPS together and she will feel really good, and Mama will too. She just looks at me like I'm crazy.

Well, I'm tired. I hope to start posting more. I find that caring for two young children full time, cooking real, unprocessed food daily (because I have no options to eat out or buy pre made stuff) and trying to keep a clean house leaves little or no time for blogging.   Every day is a huge undertaking for me. I enjoy it all, but it's more intense than I ever thought possible. Oh, I forgot to throw in getting exercise while entertaining 2 young children, that can be a challenge too. But I do it every day and I wouldn't change it for anything. I know how blessed I am.

Staying Focused

2011-08-29T08:42:00.000-05:00

Eye on the prize, going the distance, keeping the stride - you get the idea. What keeps you focused on your goals? We all have roadblocks, good days and bad, but something is different for me this time around, and I'm trying to identify exactly what that is. I have realized that each time I start to question if what I'm doing is working something huge will happen, like suddenly all the clothes in my closet are too darn big and if I want something that fits properly, I'll have to find it from a source other that my own closet. ha! What a great problem to have! Circumstances like these are the kind of thing that give you the momentum to stay on your A game and keep the workouts and awesome eating sessions coming.

I've been at it for about 225 days now & I think the most important aspect for me has been feeling better. My digestion is vastly improved with exercise and that makes a world of difference for me. I have a much better, more positive outlook on life and enhanced mental clarity.

Keeping up with this blog, I'm finding it very difficult to do though. I want to post daily, I want to post pictures, I want to inspire others to take charge of their health. My days are full of food preparation, loving my children, exercise, grocery store expeditions and the occasional playdate. It may not sound like much, but believe me, it keeps me busy. At the end of the day, I find that reading a book does more to help me fall asleep then sitting at a computer. Maybe I should try the computer in the morning and see where that takes me.

The Joy of Running!

2011-08-21T22:42:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday's run inspired the previous post and obviously this one, because I'm going to tell you all about it!

It all starts with a conversation between me and my good friend Uzma. She was telling me about all the benefits of running and how she loves it so much. I asked her about her Vibram running shoes and whether or not she liked them. She told me that when we run as wear are meant to (on the balls of our feet) it works totally different muscles and it's a different experience altogether. I listened with great interest. Even though I have recently made a drastic improvement in my running ability, I knew that I wasn't running quite this way, and I was wondering why. I was thinking maybe it was the shoes I wear, they are not special shoes, just regular non-fancy running shoes.

So fast forward to Thursday evening. I'm pushing the double stroller and feeling great. A young girl passes me and she has a great stride, a primal stride, running on the balls of her feet maybe even her tip toes for all I know. I check out her footwear and she is running in a pair of TOMS!! After she is several feet ahead of us, I decide to mimic her running style, and wow, I finally KNEW that I WAS DOING IT! I was so happy and excited, it felt very different that the way I had been running. I was GIDDY and I ran by her as she was walking and told her she had a great stride and I thanked her and told her that she had helped me improve mine. She was super nice and thankfully didn't think that I was a weirdo.

On Friday I felt that my calf muscles were worked out extremely well and Uzma was SO RIGHT - there was soreness in places that I have never felt it before.

What a great think I learned while running. I know there will be many more great things to come!

A Healthy Perception of Ones Self - A New Habit

2011-08-21T13:51:00.001-05:00

Would you believe that I was once (not long ago) convinced that I wasn't capable of running?

I started to think about why this was. I also thought about why this recently changed. There is no one single thing that sparked the change. It's a very complex series of events and I feel the need to hash them out right here in the hopes that it will help someone else in some way.

(If you know me well, you know that I'm a big picture person. I think of ALL of what most would consider minute details.) Let's just say, I loved Macro Economics but could not stand Micro.

I played soccer in an urban area where I lived in my youth - I always enjoyed it, the other kids on my team were nice, I have no bad memories of this time. I don't remember if we lost or won & I had no lack of self esteem this was from age 5-7. When I was in the third grade we moved to the country, soccer was a new thing to our school and I played from age 9-12, we lost every game we played but I never was too upset, I look back and think that learning to be a good loser was really important, even though it felt bad to never win a game I still don't think my self esteem was all that low- my team mates were fairly nice kids. When I got into Jr High, I played basketball in a CYC League, even though my Dad helped coach my team some of the kids were really mean and I ended up hating sports but kept playing just to make my Dad happy. Because mean things were said to me you can guess, my lack of self esteem became evident. I wasn't as good of a player as I could have been because I was constantly nervous and frazzled and upset. I made the freshman basketball team in high school, and being on that team was among the worst experiences of my life. That was the end of my athletic training - until this year. Now sprinkled in with these formal sports experiences, I had people tell me that I ran funny, walked funny, looked stupid when I ran, you get the idea. So what did I do? I believed them.

Ok, writing that really is a downer for me. I'm over it, I harbor no more anger towards the people involved, I forgive and I really forget most of it. So, it's with great joy that I write the next paragraph.

I can't remember when, but sometime within the last year or two I was reading a magazine about Chi Running. In it, the founder said that ALL HUMAN BEINGS were made to run. We don't need to take a class on it, it's in our genes. He was talking about barefoot running and how much better it is for our bodies. I was interested and immediately searched online for all the information I could find about Barefoot Running, Chi Running and the like. I thought that maybe there was a chance for me to be a runner after all. I thought the shoes were cool, but I still lacked the faith in myself.

Fast forward to now, I run with my kids 5 days a week in a double jogging stroller in triple digit heat. Before I had the double jogger I walked with 1 kid in a stroller and the other one in a Boba Carrier. It would take me approximately 50 minutes to walk 1.5 miles, now with the double stroller I jog just over 3 miles in 45 minutes. I have been at this now for only a month and a half, and not only does it feel good to run, it feels good to know that I CAN DO IT! Perhaps having two natural births helped me realize that I'm strong enough to run. Maybe it was the weight training that helped tone me up? Maybe it was the need to find an activity that would get my kids outdoors in this heat without having them sweat bullets? Maybe it's because running helps my digestive system so much that I now constantly crave the run? Maybe it's because I learned that the primal diet works for me, so why not primal exercise?

It certainly is a combination of experiences that led to my becoming an athlete & runner. The most important thing that I did though, is forgive & forget other peoples perceptions of me. I now have a healthy perception of myself, and when I look at something that I (at one time) never thought possible, now I know that IT IS possible. Such a shift has changed me completely, and makes life so much more fun!

Post Pregnancy Weight Loss Theory

2011-08-10T09:42:00.000-05:00

So, there are these times that even when I feel like I bust my arse to lose more weight that I don't notice much change (yes, hello, I am a scale addict!). But, I came up with a theory that so far, for me has proven to be true. Here it goes: Every three months post partum one's body can fluctuate - allowing for some weight loss if one has been eating well and expending calories. I have noticed a considerable downward fluctuation on my scale at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and now, I'm eagerly anticipating my baby's 1st birthday for a variety of reasons. I'm still nursing my baby, I'm going to follow baby led weaning, we will see where that takes us. It's more calories burned for me, great nutrition for him, and reducing my chance of breast cancer so it's win/win all around. So to say it simply, every three months my body decides its okay to let go of some extra weight. I'm sure I can't be the only one experiencing this!

Obviously, my weight loss theory is just that, a theory. It probably doesn't work this way for everyone. With my first child, I had undiagnosed Hashimotos and Celiac Disease and I literally did not lose a single pound until I got on the right thyroid RX which was around 10 or 11 months post partum (and where I happen to be at this exact moment). My first born had colic and was in constant pain (wondering if this could be due to gluten antibodies or something associated with Celiac). It was the most trying time in my life, and I realized not long ago that I forgot about how difficult it was until I started chatting with people that are still suffering with Hashimotos and are not on the right RX yet, or on no RX at all.

It is my hope that if you are a new Mom and you are struggling with post partum weight loss that you will keep this in mind. Here is my advice:

1. Take it easy the first 3 months - focus on eating really well for you and your baby - take walks on nice days, cuddle and love your baby as much as you can and relax whenever you are able. Accept all the help that if offered to you!

2. If you are ready at 3 months, try a quick exercise routine, step up your pace on walks, join a gym or go back if you are able, keep eating well- focus on nutrition.

3. At 6 months, keep up with step #2 but keep pushing yourself to do more, take it to the next level, try running, biking, any activity that will challenge you.

(I think you get the picture!) I also cannot stress enough how great weight lifting has been for me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! If you want results and you want them quick, weight training is the ticket!! Also, if you like to run/jog - the BOB Jogging stroller is worth it's weight in gold. I can't believe what a great training tool it has been for me, and it keeps my kids so happy. My daughter is like a coach, when I stop jogging to take a breather she says "Run Mama, I want to Run!" I also like that I am setting a good example by showing my kids how I exercise. I tell my daughter "Exercise makes Mama Happy". That is the truth :)

Owning Up To My Bad Habits

2011-08-06T06:48:00.000-05:00

One of the main advantages of eating well, exercising daily and living a healthy lifestyle is that I certainly FEEL IT when I don't. I recently had the pleasure of visiting family in New Orleans and for the most part, I did pretty well, but there was one night in particular when I ate WAY too much, and I felt it for the next two days. It made me think - WHY did I do that? How did I lose control? I believe that it was emotional eating- and that I ordered too much and was very greedy. When something is good I tend to want a WHOLE lot of it, rather than just ordering a small amount. I am going to try my best to be less greedy and to share more with others and also order smaller amounts of things.

It was the most fun I've had in a long time. I am so thankful to my babies for sleeping and letting me go out at night and to my family who watched them for me so that I could enjoy the time out. Despite my large plates at dinner I did manage to go to the gym 2 days out of 4. I know that really helped my mood & motivation.

Traveling can be a challenge if you have dietary restrictions and a constant need for exercise. It also throws me off my "routine". It helps to stay with family though, a family with a large kitchen :)

The Value of a Community- So Much More than a "Playgroup"

2011-07-30T00:11:00.001-05:00

Today I joined some of my most informative Mama-friends for a knitting circle. My wild little baby only let me knit one row, but that came as no surprise to me. I found this particular group of Moms on Meetup.com - it's a very go with the flow type of structure and there are 2 Moms who keep the info/playdates/etc updated. It's a very crunchy (and well informed) group of women and I can't (and don't want to) imagine life without them. This group represents one community cluster that I'm a part of in my suburban sphere. Today at knitting circle it struck me as how beneficial and helpful this community that Kelly and Stephanie created is.

What's so important about a "Moms Group?" Well for starters, it's much MUCH more than a playdate group. We're essentially a group of empowered and intelligent women who want to raise healthy and happy children. Because we want our kids to be healthy, we obviously want to possess good health ourselves so we can be present with them and create memories, bond, have fun. So it should come as no surprise that we discuss raw food, Weston A. Price, exercise, safe non-toxic deodorant/cleaners/etc. There is lots of talk of Produce Co-Ops, Costco, Sewing Patterns and so much more. If a participant in the group has a particular health concern and asks within the group the knowledge that flows forth is amazing with regard to homeopathy, care providers, etc. We are our own best resource!

My children are young, but I look forward the day when they create healthy relationships of their own. It is my wish that they share resources and try new things together. Today I thought of what a great example we are showing our children. We are showing them by our actions and language that we support each other, help each other and love each other like sisters. It's more than a Meetup Group it's a Community of intelligent and loving Women.

One thing that most of us seem to have in common is our lack of family nearby. Most of us have come here from somewhere else. Human beings were not meant to raise children alone - everyone has heard the saying "It Takes a Village". I am eternally grateful for all the help that has come my way, even when I didn't ask for it. My amazing friend Rheagan and I met in Pre-Natal Yoga class and when I found out she was a Stay At Home Mom I told her we needed to hang out. Little did I know that she would help me on so many different occasions and carry me through some of the most difficult times of my life. I truly feel G-ds will was in action through Rheagan.

I would not know about the Primal Blueprint Cookbook, have 2 Kombucha SCOBYS, have any fermented goodness in my fridge, have discovered the greatness that is Camelbak waterbottles, had help with Grace when I was huge and pregnant with my son. I certainly owe much of my health and wellness to my Community, my friends.

If you're reading this - I hope you have experiences a sense of Community yourself. If you haven't you need to go out and find it- or start it yourself!!! The sharing of information is extremely important for health and wellness. It can be done online (and that's great) but it's also important to meet face to face in order to get the "full" human experience.

Primal Suggestions

2011-07-28T15:08:00.001-05:00

I think the best (and simplest) advice that I can give for people seeking improvements in their health is to "Go Primal" with their eating. Going Primal cuts out all forms of grain and gluten and it's easy to be dairy free and primal. I did not know much about it until my dear friend, Piper loaned me my #1 favorite cook book. The Primal Blueprint Cookbook - by Mark Sisson & Jennifer Meier. The recipes are easy and delicious. The author also has a great blog which also features recipes, inspiration and information on things like how to prepare oneself for "barefoot running" - (something that I eventually will do!)

Last night, I made what may be the quickest, Primal Meal ever - a can of tuna, spring mix, wild onions with shredded carrot, juice of 1 lemon, flax oil, salt, apple cider vinegar and olive oil. If you're in a time crunch and need something easy that will only dirty one bowl this is the way to go. If you require more calories, add 2 cans of tuna instead of one. Another simple meal I do frequently is scrambled eggs with my favorite local salsa- Mateos! How easy is that?

Another favorite recipe is from This Primal Life - it's for a coconut flour blueberry muffins. No sugar, no flour - low calorie just lovely!!

Eating this way is not about depriving yourself or going without. It's about thinking differently and evolving backwards to eat the way our ancestors did.

Day #155

2011-06-22T15:23:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am still on the ball with my lifestyle change! Exercise is KING when it comes to mood and well being. Just one day without it and I feel my spirits sink. I think I said it before, MD's need to write scripts for exercise - most people need to be more serious about incorporating movement into their life. I am glad I bought a few new workout DVDs because I do start to get a little bit burned out. But now that I can mix things up a bit more that burn out has vanished. I do have plans to try new things though, like hiring a personal trainer once the baby is a year old and can manage to be away from me for just a short while. I also would love to play soccer in an adult league, Bikram Yoga is also something I have wanted to do for several years now.

It's no surprise that I thrive on a totally GRAIN FREE diet. The moment I add anything - even a slice of GF toast to my morning routine is the moment I set myself up for digestive issues within 30 minutes of eating whatever the grain item is. Spaghetti used to be a staple food around here, not anymore. Rice, corn all the gluten free grains cause a great deal of pain. I am grateful for coconut - shreds, oil,milk, flour, water - it agrees with me!

Today is Day #155 of my resistance training/lifestyle change. My problem areas have all been drastically reduced in size. There is NOTHING in my closet that is now too small - but many items that are too large. I recently noticed some upper ab definition and that has inspired me to continue with my current regimen and include more ab-work 2-3 times a week. I realize that I cannot spot/target reduce, but in addition to my current regimen it certainly will help. My goal is to reduce my weight by 10lbs by September - which would put me at my goal weight (or very near to it). Despite eating well and daily exercise I currently do not seem to be losing any weight. I feel like I'm at a plateau, the only thing that I can do is continue to move forward with my current exercise plan and hope that I will meet my goal by September. In a perfect world, with the onset of a plateau I would hire a personal trainer to help me maximize my workouts and provide change to my current routine. But that will just have to wait for a bit. Besides, I honestly feel like the videos provide a multitude of different weight training exercises - it's the cardio ones that feel repetitive.

I just realized that this is more like a journal entry than a blog post. Sorry about that. I just want to keep track of my progress and type my thoughts out in an effort to evaluate and preserve my transformation process. Also, I hope to inspire and help others on their paths.

Less Is More

2011-06-05T00:14:00.001-05:00

Today I was fortunate enough to spend the day cleaning - DEEP cleaning. The kind of project that I have had my mind on for well over 1 year now. My husband and I have a room designated as our "Office" it's a really great room actually, it has pecan flooring, three large bookcases and nice window treatments. There are two windows and by each one we each have our little workstations. My desk is a small space saver that I have had since I moved into my first apartment & it's from one of my favorite furniture stores in St Louis - The House of Denmark. My husband has a small table that he has been using as a desk ever since we met. I have watched as his side of the office started to remind me of something from the show "Hoarders". I have been asking him to clean his side of the office for at least two years now. Well, today he took the eldest to the zoo so I could conquer this task. Not only did I clean his side of the office, I cleaned mine as well and I convinced myself, and my awesome husband to get rid of many things that we are no longer using. It's not exactly how I want it just yet, but it's a drastic improvement to be sure.

The fact that this room has not been properly organized and cleaned has been grating on me for too long. I hope that now that it's decent I can finally relax a little bit. It's really challenging to find the time to organize/de-clutter when you have little cuties who want all of your love. Call me crazy, but today has been an awesome day. I was in the cleaning/de-cluttering/organizing "ZONE". Nothing like it to make you think twice before you want to buy that next book/shirt/whatever-it-may-be. Seriously trying to work on being happy with everything I do have instead of looking ahead for what's next. I am in awe over some of the stuff that we each were able to "let go" of today. Changes like this don't happen overnight, for me it has been a process and has taken some time. I am going to keep working at decluttering as it is very rewarding emotionally. Here's to a simpler, cleaner, happier life!

My 7 Days Sans Weight Training

2011-05-23T13:24:00.000-05:00

I want to make this post to encourage anyone who "falls off the wagon" with regard to ANYTHING. Whether it's not exercising, eating improperly or any other bad habit - you can break the trend, often times really easily. Also, it's important to know the root cause or causes of why you stopped sticking to your good habits in the first place.

Seven days passed without me doing any of my exercise videos. I still took long walks, and I still remained active with 2 kids - but my resistance training was put on hold for 7 full days. I started to feel depressed, unhappy, I wasn't running my household the way I wanted to (cleaning etc). I knew I needed to pick up right where I left off. I keep a notebook with info and I went for 115 days of "staying on track" with my workouts, maybe a 1 or 2 day deviation from the official plan, but nothing close to 7 days.

I began to think of why I fell off track. First, I thought of the recent Daylight Savings Time. That threw me off my game so much that I moved my workouts from first thing in the morning to the kids nap time.
Then, it all started when I had to spend my nap time on the phone taking care of some important personal business. This, in turn added stress to my life and I knew that I would spend more time on the phone in the next several days dealing with the situation. I'm also having some work done to my house, and it has been a very slow process but is finally nearing completion. I also realized that I have been watching A LOT more TV than I did previously. HBO's new Sunday night programs like Game of Thrones and Treme have kept me coming back for more. All of these things put together are a personal recipe for disaster for someone like me. After considering all these factors I decided that I should just set an alarm for 5:30am so I can continue my morning workouts. I LOVE having the morning workout complete and accounted for, for the duration of the day. In order to make this happen I need to go to bed earlier so that I can be refreshed and ready to go in the a.m.

Yesterday I broke my 7 Day Spell by working out during naptime and this morning, I woke up to my 5:30am alarm. I feel SO MUCH better already and I'm back on track.

While being on hiatus, I am proud to say that my weight did not fluctuate much at all. I didn't eat as well as I should, but I ate pretty well. I'm on a raw food kick again and enjoyed mostly nut mylk smoothies. The 7 Days OFF experience is actually positive for me because I realized that my weight loss is *real* it's not a fad diet - if it were I would have packed the pounds right back on. And also, I need the exercise to keep me happy and motivated in life. I wish all Dr.s would really PUSH the exercise on their patients and could write scripts for a Personal Trainer. For me, it is making all the difference in the world!

Nourished bellies and relationships

2011-05-15T14:29:00.000-05:00

I look forward to lots of food preparation and consumption over the weekend. With Dada to help watch the kids I get to prepare whatever I feel like sometimes & this weekend, in particular made me realize how good such simple things actually feel. I truly enjoy the process of chopping vegetables for a soup, smelling onion caramelizing in cast iron with loads of garlic. It's fun, it's creative and nourishing.

Grace comes in and wants to know what I'm doing - pretty soon she will be able to truly help and participate in the cooking (or uncooking) experiences herself. Paddy crawls about the kitchen now too, he wants to know what's going on as well. Dada loves the end product, as long as it doesn't involve a big mess to clean up.

So the weekends are certainly a time for more thought out, time consuming food preparation and family. Nourished bellies and relationships in our little space of love.

A Conversation With My Dentist

2011-05-13T21:50:00.001-05:00

Me: Have you heard of Weston A. Price?

Dentist: No. Who is he?

Me: Only like the COOLEST Dentist EVER!

Dentist: Really?

Me: Oh yeah! Back in the early 1900s he traveled the world studying the diets of indigenous people and determined that the Western diet was often the cause of poor dental health as well as overall physical degeneration.

Dentist: Hmm interesting

Me: Yes, he even published a book and conducted studies. He also disapproved of the modern day root canals. After reading about root canals I have decided that I would most likely opt for an extraction, and I can be vain, so that's saying a lot.

Dentist: Really? You would actually opt for an extraction?

Me: Yes. After what I have read, I am convinced that modern day root canals cause some severe issues to human health and degeneration.

Dentist: Hmm, what is this guys name again?

Me: Weston A. Price -   I am going to buy his book and you are welcome to borrow it if you like. I think you'd really enjoy reading it, as he has quite a following.

Dentist:   A following? Really?

Me:     Yes. Believe it or not, there are many cookbooks that exist today that are very popular- based on & inspired by his research.     A dentist with a fan club, if you can believe it. A LARGE fan club too.

Dentist: I am definitely going to check this out.

Me: Cool! Please do! There is a BIG OPEN MARKET for holistic dentistry here.

Dairy (and Refined Sugar) are the new Gluten

2011-05-13T21:36:00.000-05:00

All of my friends know that I am in the process of getting back into the "best shape of my life". Major lifestyle changes have not only become a habit, but something that I LOVE and am really looking forward to. But if you have spoken, texted or emailed me recently you probably also know my journey is not yet over. I have still been suffering with gastrointestinal issues, things that I won't say because I don't want you to become ill, along with abdominal pain and bloating. Spending excessive amounts of my time in the restroom is just not cool when I have two kids screaming for attention, crawling on the counter and knocking over glass, coloring on each other and chewing on shoes, but I digress.

I spoke to my Dr and we came to the conclusion that it's most likely dairy that is the culprit. Now, even though I don't drink straight cows milk at this time (raw or pasteurized) I still consume things like whey protein shakes and butter every single day. I have been taking digestive enzymes with my meals along with Betaine HCL and this really seems to help digest proteins like I should. So this morning, I took a very high quality digestive enzyme along with my usual whey protein shake and BAM! it hit me like a ton of bricks - ouch! Now, I have had my thoughts about whey not agreeing with me before, but this drink is so respected and everyone loves it, I thought that it couldn't be the shake. But I can now say for certain that it is. I'm sure it's fine for the rest of the population who, unlike me can tolerate dairy. It has worked well for me with regard to weight loss, but I just can't afford to consume it any longer.

So I am really going to make efforts to treat Dairy and Refined Sugars just like I do gluten - ERADICATE them! It seems to be the ticket to less time spent in the restroom and a happier family life. Even though I'm not Vegan, I do believe the Vegan products will suit me better as they are (for the most part) certified organic and animal product free.

So, the journey continues. I'm pretty sure that I'm well on my way to getting even better and that I uncovered a major problem that was frustrating me these past few weeks. I loved bread and dairy and sugar but it's not worth all of the pain.

Four Simple Tips for Success

2011-05-06T22:49:00.001-05:00

People have been asking me what I did to shed 15-20lbs in 3 months time. The truth is, it was a culmination of many different things - an intense lifestyle change. But here are some very critical components to a proper weight loss attempt.

1. Get a Heart Rate Monitor- I just LOVE working out with my HRM. I thought the strap would bother me, but I often forget to remove it. If you're counting calories you know exactly how much is going in - it's equally important to learn how much you're burning off. It also lets you know which exercises really challenge you.

2. Discuss Weight Loss Goals with Your Dr - We hear this all the time, but do we really do it? Prior to giving birth to my daughter I prided myself on my ability to "never see a Dr". If you are having problems losing weight and you are giving it your all it would be wise to discuss this with your Dr. If your Dr brushes you off and hasn't been helpful I suggest you find a new one or try a Naturopath or Chiropractor.

3. Ditch the Diet Drinks and Soda - ANYTHING with artificial sweetener is not good for you. Like smoking, it's a bad habit. Just say NO! I have not consumed any of these products in the past year and a half! (probably longer)

4. Write down your goals and tell your friends. When I started my Body Transformation Program I announced it on Facebook. Sure, not everyone cares or pays attention or even noticed, but some friends did and they encouraged me. The main idea is that you announce it to everyone you know so you hold YOURSELF accountable. If you write it down and tell others the chances of it becoming reality are much higher.

These things were very easy for me to accomplish. Maybe some folks would struggle with one or maybe even all of the above. You don't have to do all of these things at one time, but it's important to be moving towards your goal. The payoff is so very worth it. There is no better feeling in the world!

The House Next Door

2011-05-06T13:14:00.000-05:00

As I look out my window today I see a United Van Lines truck with large wooden crates. A new neighbor is moving in! Oh, how my mind wanders with eager anticipation of who they could be. Will they be friendly? Do they have children? Will I invite them over for tea on my new patio? Only time will tell. Right now I'm trying to decide what to bring when I introduce myself. Now that I'm aware of allergies I hesitate to bring baked goods, I will probably stick with a plant.

Extreme Motivation (How I got back into jeans that fit before my wedding day)

2011-05-04T22:51:00.001-05:00

I write this post with sincere gratitude, and a zestful happiness that I have never truly experienced until recently. Not long ago, I thought I would never wear size 7 clothes again, little did I know that I would eventually change the course of my shape/attitude/well being.

To make a really long story short and sweet. I gave birth to my son in late September and lost 30lbs of baby weight pretty quickly. I gave myself time to adjust to new motherhood and decided that when he was 3 months old I would start working out again in some capacity and also get really stringent on my diet. Around this time I noticed that a friend on Facebook, Vivian had gone through a "Total Body Transformation" by drinking Shakeology (a tasty, filling meal replacement) daily, and by committing to a series of workout videos created by Chalene Johnson/Beachbody. Oh how I yearned for a similar transformation, so I started to post comments. Vivian told me that I could do this too, we emailed and spoke on the phone and she offered to be my "Coach". I was very skeptical but it did work for her, she was doing something right. I was hopeful that it would work for me too, I decided to go "all in".

I chose to work out with ChaLEAN Extreme using resistance tubing in place of dumbells for adequate resistance. The workouts were intense and it took a while before I could get through the circuits and drills without having to sit and rest for a few minutes. After 90 days I was able to get through like a pro- with great form and no breaks. That's when I decided to step it up a notch to keep the challenge there and purchase additional videos that would add to the challenge. I am hoping this keeps me losing poundage!

Another thing that I did that helped was tell my Dr about what I was doing. He suggested eating 1500 calories a day, I was pretty surprised because that's not a lot and I'm a nursing mother. But when I burn 500 calories a day, then I can eat 2000 calories and that's not hard at all. I tend to eat less when I exercise, not sure why. I think it's because I get busy and don't think about food as much. My Dr also suggested the book "The Spectrum" by Dr Dean Ornish - I took some concepts from the book and applied them and it did seem to really help me. My Dr lost about 70lbs in the past 5 years himself and had a "total transformation" so he motivated me further.

I do remember that about 40-60 days into it I felt great but didn't yet garner the results I was hoping to. I thought maybe it was my thyroid problem or just bad health, not really sure, because I was feeling better/more energetic. I think it was simply the fact that I was building muscle and needed to count calories.

So, to make it all short - The MOST important thing you need to lose weight is a CAN-DO POSITIVE Attitude. The second thing you need is support and motivation from outside. Vivian was very supportive and helpful because she had just accomplished what I really wanted to. Knowing that she did it really inspired me. I also know that for me, I could do cardio until the cows come home and not lose pounds. I needed the muscle building component that ChaLEAN Extreme provides. Because Muscle Burns Fat! I also love the taste and convenience of the Shakeology meal replacement shake in chocolate flavor. I've been drinking it every day for the past 105 days so it has to be doing some good!!!

The stats so far are that in 105 days: 16 inches lost - 15 pounds lighter - and bodyfat reduced from 28 to 15. I started at 187 and I'm currently at 168 - that's more than 15lbs but things fluctuate so I like to do a range. I truly lost somewhere between 15-20lbs so far. Only 10-15 more to lose and I'm where I really want to be.

I would love to help any of my family and friends accomplish what I have. I really don't think there is anything that feels better than losing weight the right, healthy & challenging way!

It's also important to note that the ChaLEAN Extreme program is just like having your own personal trainer, but in the comfort of your own home. There are plenty of modifications for people with problem knees or people who can't/don't want to be jumping around. I found Chalene Johnson to be very upbeat and encouraging and this somehow helped me on a psychological level and her positive influence kept me working out consistently with the videos. I never lost hope and thought of my weight loss as a "BATTLE AGAINST AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE". I decided that I was going to win the fight, and make my body strong so that I can be healthy. I do give myself credit for taking charge. It has paid off in a multitude of ways. A simple example: just the other day I went down a slide along side my daughter while wearing my son in a baby carrier - she laughed gleefully and we continued to go down the slide together probably 20 times. I realized after I went down the first time that this poor child hasn't had a very active parent - and I felt so joyful to know that I can be that "active" parent now. It truly makes such a huge difference to her, and to me as well.

Back to the Swing of Things: Diagnosis Celiac

2011-05-01T14:54:00.000-05:00

Wow! Last time I posted here- my daughter was just 7 or 8 months old. I currently have a son the same age. Reading this blog brings back memories of that time. I don't know HOW I MANAGED through my life back then. Believe it or not, life is easier for me now with two kids. You might think I'm crazy, but it's true. When Grace was just over 1 year old I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, going gluten free has made a HUGE impact on my life. It also took a while for the Dr to get me on the proper thyroid RX. That happened when my daughter was about 9 or 10 months old. The suffering I endured was tremendous,but I am grateful that I was diagnosed rather quickly and am now living a high quality life. When my son was 3 months old I began a strength training program. I am now excited about body building!

Look for many more updates! I started several other blogs, but this one, I feel is calling me back!

Trying to Get My Life In Order...

2009-07-30T12:36:00.002-05:00

Wow- the trials and tribulations of my new life! Just being able to type out a blog post is quite an accomplishment these days. Baby Cheese is teething, has allergies, and I still suffer from hypothyroid symptoms, allergies, depression. Mr Cheese suffers from medical conditions. The three of us together like this, we are a mess indeed! I can think of a ka-trillion things that I want and need to do, but just can't get to doing them while caring for Baby Cheese. There are places I want to go, but I just don't feel at ease carting her around in her current state.

I'm in one of those moods where I want to de-clutter on a MASSIVE scale and just give stuff away. All of this *stuff* is clogging up my mind. I really despise JUNK mail too. I hate sorting through the mail and shredding stuff that I never wanted in the first place. Such a waste of time.

Please say a little prayer for the Cheese Family. Hope that our medicines start to work and that we will be happy soon.

First July 2009 Post.......

2009-07-12T13:00:00.002-05:00

So many new things have transpired at the Cheese residence this month! Actually, last month as well. On Mr. Cheese's birthday, Baby Cheese, for the first time, pulled herself up to standing. I'll never forget the way I felt at that moment, as I was the first one to see it! She had pulled herself up while holding on to the Jumperoo. Now I know what it feels like to be proud... incredible! She's a nice size baby - is already wearing clothing for 1 year old's and she's not quite 10 months yet.

Sometimes I think she likes PugCheesy more than me. Whenever he trots by, she giggles and laughs reaching for his doggie ID tags, pulling on his collar. He even lets her take his bones and chew toys away without biting, but I know he is frustrated with her. He's an excellent dog - and she's an excellent baby- we are so blessed!

Our favorite thing to do right now is go to the gym. They have a childcare area and I'm hoping Baby Cheese gets to liking it. So far her limit is about 1 hour there. I know she loves to people watch & there is plenty going on to pique her interest.

I can hardly believe that we'll be gearing up for a 1st Birthday soon. My goal: to not let it spiral out of control. I even think I'll try my hand at baking the cake since I have a really awesome cookbook.

Hope all our family and friends are doing well! We love you guys! xoxox

Lessons Learned

2009-06-09T01:04:00.002-05:00

I really miss blogging! It was such an integral part of me, and then I just stopped. Even though you would never know it if you saw me, I have just gone through one of the hardest times of my life. Hypothyroidism is no joke, and I now truly understand what many people go through. The depression and lack of energy and hope is the worst. I really believe that I have survived this a better, much more understanding person.

Baby Cheese is just fantastic!! Almost 9 months old now. She babbles a lot! Her first words were - Alla and Ra and she says these words OFTEN!! It's awesome! She rolls over, pulls herself up and (drumroll) crawls as of June 1st! Her motivation for crawling- Pug Cheesy. That dog makes her laugh, move, jump and sing. He is truly an inspiration to her. It is the coolest thing ever. I don't know if there is anything cuter or cooler than Babies and Pugs! I am glad to see that she shares my joy when it comes to that little furbaby pug! Ah the adventures they will have together! So much to look forward to!

I'm back to raw fooding, and I really think that I need to be realistic and have a 50% raw diet. The gung ho - 95-100% is maybe a bit much for me at this time. Maybe I can slowly adjust my diet upwards.

I hope to blog more often now that I'm feeling better. I cleaned the office and it's much nicer to spend time here :) I love cleaning, but do it so rarely. I need to remedy that!

Feels Like An Eternity

2009-04-29T20:27:00.003-05:00

A lot has happened since I last posted. I have a new sister in law, Baby Cheese has now reached the 7 month mark and Mr Cheese is super busy with work. I also have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, so that explains why I just didn't feel like posting for a while. I think I'm getting my energy back & I'm starting to feel a little like my old self again.

The Motherhood gig is nice, but it's not always smiley faces and roses. It's a really great thing I didn't like my job. I keep repeating that, it's like a mantra for me. Forever grateful that I am not a slave to the corporate world.

Uncle Cheeser's wedding was off the hook, buck wild. It was fun, but I didn't last long. We left the festivities at 9pm - we had to get a good nights rest before the day of travel on Sunday. I woke up Sunday morning and felt good. I was so glad I did not party too hard.

Six Months and Then Some

2009-03-29T08:16:00.005-05:00

(ABOVE: Baby Cheese rollin' with her crew!)

(Photo above taken last month at the Audobon Zoo in New Orleans, the hat she is wearing was mine when I was a baby!)

Whoa! We have reached the six month mark! What a joy it is! Baby Cheese has found her high pitched squeal and babbles with delight as she bounces in her new jumperoo! The old colicky baby has been replaced with a much happier, more fun version of herself. The jumperoo may be our best toy purchase yet. About two weeks ago, I noticed that Baby Cheese would bounce in my lap while I held her. I didn't know if she was bouncing or trying to dance! I instantly thought the jumper would be something she would enjoy, ran out and bought one. I'm not sure if it is the cause of all of her happiness these days, I almost want to say it is, but I don't believe that *things* can make us all happy. I will say that I am VERY VERY glad we have one, though!

Around the house: Mr Cheese and I are now avid coffeemakers, thanks to this amazing coffeemaker we now have. Gotta have whole beans....just gotta!

Mr Cheese and I eagerly await UncleCheeser's wedding day! I get to wear a "Southern Belle" fancy dress and am SO STOKED!

I'm trying to get all healthy again, ie: I plan on getting back into raw food. I'm excited about that too!

2009-03-29T08:15:00.001-05:00

Nearly Six Months!

2009-03-09T13:14:00.002-05:00

So we are oh so close to reaching the six month mark! Where did all the time go?
Lately, I feel a sense of relief with regard to Baby Cheese, she really does like me and she giggles and smiles like I had always dreamed my child would! I'm enjoying Motherhood so much, much more than I even anticipated. I have so many wonderful Mom friends and our family is so wonderful that even though they are all far away, they help us out sooo much! Talk about being blessed. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that each and every day I wake up and thank the Lord for all of my blessings. I never in a gazillion years thought that I could be this happy. Sometimes when I talk I sound like a Baptist preacher - "God sure is Good!" just rolls from my tongue. Nothing wrong with that, it's great. My only hangup is that I think I should be doing more for others. That is a challenge while caring for your new baby though. But I'm determined that when she grows older I will find ways to help friends,family and folks that are down on their luck.

Mr Cheese sorta surprised me the other day by coming home with a Mom-Mobile. I knew we were in the market for one, but didn't expect it so soon. The thing is like a space shuttle! Everything is voice activated and it has all the bells and whistles. It is the ideal Mom Car. Now if we have more Cheeses we have the vehicle for them all! The best part is the ENTIRE family can now go out in one vehicle. ENTIRE family being the Dogs, Pugcheesy and Cheesador Retriever were very stoked to have so much room on the way to the Dog Park yesterday.

Life is Grand! I love ya'll!

xoxoxox

Whirlwind Week!

2009-03-01T09:47:00.003-06:00

Had an action-packed week! We came back from an amazing time in New Orleans! While there I gained several pounds!!!! Oye Vaye! Baby Cheese bonded with her MeeMaw and PopPop! They sure were ready for her, everything she could want was at their house. She also slept through the night Saturday for the VERY FIRST time! That was also the night that Mr Cheese and I enjoyed the Endymion Parade. It was so much fun, we were fortunate to be able to watch from Cousin Annie's well appointed balcony. Just so you know, Kid Rock looks just as trashy in person as he does in photos! ha!

We returned to Big D on Sunday night and I was very social on Tuesday and Wednesday with play dates and on Thursday my Best girlfriend, Jester came to town for her birthday. We were up and at it the entire time and Baby Cheese fared very well! We did some cooking, a very minor amount of shopping, and a bit of dining out. We also walked quite a bit! (which I am in dire need of). I really miss Jester and wish we lived A LOT closer to each other, Baby Cheese really seems to dig her. I think we make a good trio!

For the Ancestors!

2009-02-17T12:17:00.005-06:00

A pet peeve of mine is when people my age (and younger, and older) treat elders with disrespect! I love, love, LOVE older people. They are overflowing with knowledge and incredible stories! I can see myself one day, chock full of great tidbits that I will be dying to dispense to others. "Don't make the same mistakes that I did, Sonny!" will most certainly fall effortlessly from my lips.

So it's in the spirit of love and tradition that I share these photos. I know my Great Grandparents, Grandparents and all of those before them will be happy to know that their newest relative has been baptized in a House of the Lord, and that I have promised to do my best to give her a good, Catholic upbringing, just as I had! I love you, my awesome ancestors thanks for trekking your way to North America and making my life possible! Even though ya'll are in heaven I think of you often!

PS: Dear Ancestors, I hope you are as rebellious and fun as I envision you! xoxox

The ABC Gang

2009-02-14T10:38:00.006-06:00

My new idea of fun includes meeting up with other Stay at Home Moms and their babies during the day. It always makes the day/week/month so much better! As you can see Baby Cheese already has her own little "Gang", both boys were born just after she was at the Allen Birthing Center. So I guess their "Gang" can be called the "ABC Gang"! How cute is that? These little boys also have very cool, very fun Moms that I am blessed to know & be friends with!

I thought this would be appropriate for St Valentines Day!

xoxoxoxoxoxox

My Best Friend!

2009-02-13T19:14:00.002-06:00

5 Months Old Here We Come!

2009-02-11T15:53:00.002-06:00

So exactly 1 week from today, Baby Cheese will hit the 5 month mark. I'm getting prepared by buying transition sippy cups, a booster seat and other things to transition to solid feeding - because six months is oh so near!

Baby Cheese still has that "mind of her own". At night when we put her in her nightgown (one of those sleep sacks) she kicks her feet so hard that the darn thing is WAY below her neck. So, I have to move it up, to her waist, like a shirt - so that her legs are free to kick and move as she wishes. She also does not like having her leggies covered by a blanket. Sometimes I think she is cold so I put a blanket over them, she kicks it right off. Does anyone else have a baby that does this?

I have already tried one of her transition cups. It has sippy cup handles and a nipple that doesn't leak. Sometimes it works and she uses it, other times she gets irritated because the milk doesn't come out the way she's used to.

We have a lot of fun planned these next few weeks. Like, a visit to MeeMaw and Pop Pops and Uncle Dan and Aunt Kristina's wedding! Baby Cheese sure has A LOT of family to meet!

New pics coming soon!

xoxox

How I Got Cloth Diapering To Work For Me!

2009-02-04T19:50:00.002-06:00

Prior to having Baby Cheese I spent a large amount of time wondering what kind of diaper I should use. I read about cloth and it sounded ideal. I researched the products out there and discovered "All In Ones" cloth diapers that are cute and grow with your child. Heck, if you save them you can use them for Cheese #2 or 3 or 4!

Here is my "realistic" take on cloth diapering.

After becoming a "new" Mom, I was pretty overwhelmed. I had a few packs of the disposables so I used them until they ran out. I was scared to use cloth, as I envisioned the massive amount of work they would entail. Was afraid they would leak, smell etc.

I started using cloth and found it to be easy enough, but at 1.5-2 months in I was still stressed and overwhelmed as a new Mom. One day, I forgot to turn off the stove and our house smelled terrible!! I used disposables for the 2 weeks following that incident. I then resumed cloth and got into my "routine".

It's safe to say that now, Baby Cheese and I both prefer cloth!!! Hands down! They haven't leaked yet, are softer, more comfy and look cuter.

How did I get this to be more manageable? Simple

1. After each change I place the cloth dipe in a pail. At the end of the day I spray them all down w/the sprayer.

2. Every other day I wash them.

I always have a supply of clean diapers, ready to use and they are already paid for!

Do you cloth diaper? Have any tips? Feel free to comment here with your experiences!

Some Things I Didn't Expect About Pregnancy

2009-01-29T05:32:00.003-06:00

I wanted to make a list of things that I did not expect to happen or did not know about, in an effort to help any of my readers. And, also to remember one day what an awesome, crazy trip pregnancy and labor can be!

1. Just because you have it easy the first 2 trimesters does not mean the 3rd will go as smooth.

2. "Pushing" for me, was not the natural instinct that I thought all mammals of the female persuasion had.

3. Your job suddenly feels like the 9th Ward of Hell. Even though you never disliked it prior to your 3rd trimester.

4. Early on, I found myself loving movies like "The Holiday", I would normally refuse to watch this kind of stuff. Now I live for it. I'm forever a changed woman.

5. After giving birth, my feet were more swollen than they were at the end of pregnancy. When I laid down they throbbed painfully. This was the MOST disturbing thing to me of all, but apparantly it is normal.

6. The adrenaline that one gets after a natural birth with no drugs keeps you up for days. Sometimes even if baby is quiet and you could sleep, you just can't because the adrenaline is SO INTENSE.

7. I had no idea that 2nd stage labor would last for a little over 5 hours.

8. After giving birth, I am now aware that had I gone to a hospital, I would have certainly had a c-section. In fact, with a narrow pelvis 95% of Dr's would have been telling me to plan on one after my first few visits. I'm glad I trusted my instincts and went to a CNM (certified nurse midwife).

9. I had no idea, how attached and happy I would be with my providers. They have truly touched me and inspired me in so many ways. If I was younger I would seriously consider becoming a nurse. Even though, I don't like needles and blood!

10. My baby is even more precious than I dreamed she could be. Her smile is like a billion sunsets in Negril, Jamaica.

4 Months

2009-01-29T05:25:00.005-06:00

Wow! Everyday is a gift! Baby Cheese is already playing in her exersaucer and she seems to be enjoying it. Sometimes, I think she is too hard on herself, as she already gets frustrated with the fact that her motorskills are still quite crude, and frankly not where she wants them to be (she takes after her father in this way!) She moves about and hits things, grabs things, bangs things against other things. We went to her Dr for her 4 month checkup and everything is right where it should be. She moved from 55 to the 61st percentile in weight, she was a healthy 14lbs 4 oz. Her head is in the 75th percentile at 16.5 - as parents we are just beaming proud!

Ok, and isn't this pic the cutest? I love how she put her arm/hand under my chin. She is now my biggest fan, and my best friend (along with Mr. Cheese!).

I'm Happy And it Shows!!!

2009-01-21T12:12:00.001-06:00

I just noticed that in my last post, I used and exclamation point !! after each sentence. I really believe that is reflective of my mood. I do feel so lucky and so blessed, I do not take anything for granted because I know it may not last forever.

Here's to being happy!!!!!

Just Over 4 Months!

2009-01-21T12:05:00.002-06:00

Baby Cheese is just a few days over 4 months old! The colic is over! She is more fun to hang out with and most of the time just desires to be changed and fed if whining. We have started with the Exercauser and she seems to like it for 15 minute intervals!

We have hosted our first playdate, and I think it went well! I'll have to host them more often! I will post some adorable pics of her and her little friends soon!

This is getting to be more fun each day! I feel blessed each day when I wake up, I am so fortunate to spend my time with such an incredible and beautiful little person!

Now...if I can just get better about cleaning the house and lose the rest of this baby weight I will be SOOO SOOO happy!

I have some real motivation, my brothers wedding! My sister in law picked out a beautiful dress, I have tried it on and it's a perfect fit, but I would really LOVE LOVE LOVE it if it fit loose prior to his big day! I'm working on that!

Spoke Too Soon

2009-01-03T15:49:00.003-06:00

After my last post, Baby Cheese went ahead and proved me wrong. She is now breastfeeding MUCH better and enjoys the Moby Wrap. I have wrapped her each day since the previous post and we even went out for a walk -- It is HOT outside! It's like all of a sudden she is feeling much better and is wanting to do the attachment parenting thing. Now all of Dr Sears' recommendations are working for me, it just took a while.

I'm really liking the Moby wrap - at first it is intimidating, but it gets easier to use. I'm glad that I'm getting more use out of it. I was starting to feel guilty for buying it and having it not be used.

Life is truly GRAND!!! Our family of 2 large humans, 1 small human and 2 lovable canines is doing wonderful!

Yum!

2009-01-01T11:36:00.003-06:00

I made some cupcakes! The same that I enjoyed at my Brother In Laws House on Christmas Day. They are SOOO Awesome that I had to take a pic!

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T17:44:00.002-06:00

The last sunset of 2008 --- view from my courtyard. Taken on my new Samsung Eternity.

Miss Personality!

2008-12-31T15:25:00.007-06:00

So, three months is great because now, I feel like I have always known my baby. It doesn't feel like ONLY three months, it feels like I've known her my entire life. I had always hoped for a very independent spirit, a little person who thinks for herself. I didn't think this would manifest itself so soon, but it has! I remember 1 or 2 hours after she was born the nurse was swaddling her and she did not want her hands swaddled- NO MA'AM! She does not like her sling or her moby wrap because she likes to flail her little hands and feet about. She does like the Snugli though - I have come to realize that she enjoys a more structured carrier. She also prefers a bottle to the breast. It makes life more difficult as she is exclusively breast fed, but I think the benefits outweigh the minor inconvenience for me.

Baby Cheese has red hair, and many people are hoping that she is a red head. I will be happy with whatever haircolor she ends up with. Sometimes I don't realize how red it is until we are in the sunlight. She at times shows us a red heads temper too.

I like thisthree month time! Baby Cheese is a real joker/prankster, laughing and cooing. She tries to take the bottle into her own hands and messes around for a laugh. When I read to her she looks very astute and eager to learn. I can't wait to read her Bible stories! I still have my kid Bible and I spent countless hours paging through it.

I would have to say that of all the things Dr Sears recommends, the one that I enjoy most is bedsharing. I can't think of having it any other way and I get tons of sleep and so does baby. I find wearing her and breastfeeding her to be a real challenge, just because of her independent spirit. But she is not independent enough to want to sleep alone yet, and that is totally fine with me.

Staying at home is still cool with me - I have to thank Rheagan and Alanna for that! It's really great to hang out with other Moms and their kiddos to talk, have coffee and take a break from being at home. I have really experienced massive kindness from so many women before and after having Baby Cheese. I could never have imagined how supportive and helpful other women can be! Such a blessing!

Speaking of blessings, Thank Goodness my father is doing well. He seems to be sick and went to the ER last night. He is now at home, resting and doing better. I love you Daddy!!!!

Bring On 2009!

2008-12-31T08:18:00.003-06:00

My new gig is keeping me really busy. I have less time for Dear Internet, less time for updates, but that was what I expected.

Christmas was wonderful! My parents flew down from St Louie to hang with us. IT was great having two extra set of hands to help with the baby, and it's a pleasure to see Maw and Pa's face light up when they speak to Baby Cheese.

Baby Cheese is now 3.5 months old. What a fun age! She is much happier now, certainly recognizes Mom and Dad and can hold her head up on her own. She recently graduated to the Bumbo Baby Seat. I set her in there and read to her, so far, I think her favorite book is "Gossie"

PugCheesy has been fabulous to Baby Cheese ever since her arrival. He is a bit protective and he seems to totally understand that Andrew and I need to attend to her first. He does miss being babied like he was, but he doesn't act out any more than he ever did before. He is a fabulous boy, when BabyCheese gets bigger they are really going to hit it off.

I'm always excited for the new year to begin. I pray this one is a good one.

Progress!

2008-12-18T15:09:00.003-06:00

It's been EXACTLY three months since I pushed out Baby Cheese. Today, I tried on my pre-pregnancy chinos. They fit, albeit a bit snugly. I think if I keep up my momentum I can have them fitting a bit loose in 2 weeks or less. This is with little or no exercise, so imagine when the weather gets better and I'm on the move!!!

I feel like I've been in size limbo. You see, I'm so close to fitting back into all of my old stuff, but in the interim I'm wearing sweatpants and starting to feel bad about appearance. It's tempting to buy new clothing in larger sizes, but why spend the money if I'm so close to fitting back into my old stuff. Patience is a virtue I need to get more of.

Todays tidbit of progress helped to motivate me further.

One of my fears was that having a baby would wreak havoc on my body. It wasn't as bad as I thought it could be. I can see myself looking better even, in a way. I'll be back to my old self soon, and from there I need to continue to work hard to maintain.

This is a challenging time of year too, but if I can just steer clear of sweets I'll be fine. I've been told that I run a tight ship (hee hee). It's time for me to get back into that mindset.

I think Hell Just Froze Over

2008-12-16T10:35:00.002-06:00

It is so cold right now!!! Thankfully, my feet are warm. People can say what they want about Uggs being UGGly, but they are the warmest shoe out there. For the record, I have a pair of the lesser expensive brand, but the shearling is so warm, and I don't even need to wear socks. You know that you are growing old when comfort is first and foremost.

Last night I made quite possibly my absolute favorite dish. Raw spaghetti. I bought a spiralizer to make zuchinni noodles and created my own raw marinara. The true test: Mr Cheese liked it and will have it again. There is hope for him eating a healthy menu yet! He also likes my signature green smoothie.

Maybe I will become a raw food chef one day-- I sure enjoy it!!! Gives me more energy and enables me to be a better Mom.

xoxox

5 Years

2008-12-15T11:52:00.003-06:00

On Saturday Mr Cheese and I celebrated 5 years of marriage. 5 years sounds like a long time to me, but it doesn't really *feel* like a long time. The past 5 years have been a blessing, and I'm so happy to be married to such a great man! Every anniversary I reflect on how lucky we both were to meet, and how many bad guys I went through before I finally found "the one".

I love you Mr Cheese! Happy Anniversary!

December Already!

2008-12-04T19:42:00.002-06:00

Seems that not long ago it was September, December sure came quick. I like the cooler weather, but I don't like the lack of sunshine. This time of year is always difficult for me. I'm eager for springtime, and very thankful that I live in a relatively warm part of the country.

Baby Cheese is now smiling frequently and tries to talk to me. She seems to be a morning person. Every morning when I wake up I talk to her and she tries to convey to me how happy she is with little coos and the sweetest sounds that I have ever heard.

I'm in love!!

Also, she found a binky that she really likes and it seems to soothe her. The crying spells have been drastically reduced. I am grateful for this!

Mr Cheese takes his big test this Saturday and I cannot wait for it to be over. I can't wait to tackle an issue that is annoying me.....CLUTTER!!

Holiday Photos

2008-12-02T14:18:00.002-06:00

Photos were taken at Sears and they have given us permission to post, which is soo cool. Getting photos with a 2 month old was not an easy task, but I'm glad we did it,, and I'm glad it's over!

Homeschool Humor

2008-11-28T16:03:00.001-06:00

Homeschool Humor

Posted using ShareThis

It Truly Pays to Own Good Cookware

2008-11-28T12:36:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone had a fab turkey day! I think the baby enjoyed having company and seeing her cousins. I didn't eat as much as I normally would due to caring for baby. I'm not at my pre pregnancy weight yet. But I hope to start eating better after the New Year. I was able to lose 15-20lbs last January and if I can do that again this year, life will be much better!

The other day I found out how great my cookware really is. I was boiling down some chicken to make stock, between laundry, feeding baby and trying to get my house in order I forgot that I left the chicken boiling on the stove. We went to bed, and at around 2am I smelled something burning and Mr. Cheese went to go check it out. As soon as I heard him turn the dial on the stove, I remembered what I had forgotten about earlier. He said there was a cloud of smoke and that our stock pot was probably baked and useless. I felt horrible, and scatterbrained, and plain stupid for this. It took me a while but I eventually went in the kitchen to check it out - to my surprise the stove looked just fine, and the pot salvagable. I washed it out, only took 5 minutes! It looked just like it had prior to the incident. The house smelled of smoke and we opened all the windows, boiled vinegar for 24 hours, lit candles and Febreez'ed the curtains. Things were back to normal!

So, I highly recomended Analon cookware. I received a set of their pots as a wedding gift and I'm thankful to have such great stuff. I have made this mistake with a teapot in the past and the teapot was toast.

I feel like I have lost some serious braincells. Sometimes I feel like the most ridicuolus person in the world. I'm clumsy too, still run into doors, walls.
I'm ready to feel somewhat normal again.

My New Fave Pic!!!

2008-11-25T21:42:00.001-06:00

Baby Cheese's Name

2008-11-16T17:59:00.003-06:00

She's named after Grace Gifford Plunkett - a symbolic Irish patriot!
Here is a video telling the story, along with one of my most favorite songs!

Baby WRAP!

2008-11-06T14:00:00.002-06:00

This wrap distrubes baby's weight better than a sling, for more comfort!

LOVING IT!

Ring Sling

2008-11-01T12:37:00.003-05:00

Baby Cheese likes her ring sling! It looks cool too! I'll be honest, it took a while for me to get comfortable usig it - but now it's very easy! It is also easy when baby is a bit bigger - when baby cheese was just 6lbs it was challenging!

Career Change! Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T21:01:00.004-05:00

I quit my gig in corporate America. I exchanged my old boss for a new one, a little 10 pound baby girl now gives me my orders. She's the best boss I have had to date, how rewarding it is to work for her!

It's kind of scary not having a paycheck to look forward to anymore, but I reckon that this is for the best and I can certainly handle it. After childbirth, I'm empowered and I know that I CAN do ANYTHING!

Being a SAHM sounds like such a great adventure! I'm already doing it, but today I made it official and informed my employer. Boy, do I feel like a giant weight has been lifted from my chest.

Cheers to a bright future and to having fun while being a Stay at Home Mommy!

Nearly 1 Month!

2008-10-17T17:58:00.002-05:00

We have just about made it to 1 month old - WOW! It has been a trip. Time flies even quicker when you stay home. I don't report back to work until late November and I can feel the time slipping away. Baby Cheese seems to be getting on a schedule. I have been getting some decent sleep ever since we started co-sleeping! So, I would recommend co-sleeping as you cannot spoil a newborn. Baby Cheese is probably about 8lbs now - she's alert and likes to be held (surprise surprise!).

Well, she needs me now, but just wanted to give a quick update. No baby blues here, Mom is managing very well.

Welcome to the World, Baby Cheese!

2008-09-23T05:39:00.003-05:00

Baby Cheese entered the world on 9/18/08 at 2:07am. She is a Tiny Cheese, weighing in at 6lbs 1oz. Her disposition is as sweet as can be, I believe that she looks like her Beaming Proud Papa (and I'm not alone!)

My birth experience was a very spiritual and beautiful reflection of who I am. Many things about it were not what I expected, but I never gave up and had a natural, unmedicated birth. I do have some healing and recovery time ahead of me, but I couldn't be any more pleased with the outcome.

My midwife and RN were nothing short of incredible and helped provide strength to my core. I feel like I can accomplish anything after going through labor. I never was afraid, even prior to the birth. I knew my body body wouldn't give me something I couldn't handle. I even felt the rush of oxytocin - incredible stuff!

More to come later as it hurts to sit right now!

xoxox

My Birth Story

2008-09-15T09:37:00.003-05:00

Wow, another year added to my existence, It's my Birthday!

This might be a more memorable birthday, because I'm eagerly anticipating my daughters birthday more than I am my own. It's pretty cool seeing yourself transform to being someone more selfless & putting someone elses needs first.

I also have a whole new outlook on birthdays, and I want to talk about the day that I came into the world and how it has influenced many of my decisions today. From what I know, my Mother went to the hospital the moment she first realized that she was in labor with me (around lunch time, I think). At the hospital she did not progress as fast as they wanted her to and her Dr was ready to go home and have dinner and told her she needed a c-section. I was born via c-section at around 6:20pm.
I was healthy, around 8lbs 5oz and didn't have any complications so my parents were happy campers.

My brothers are twins, so let's just say my Mom had some difficult birth experiences. She never complained to me about them, but when I asked her for details it became apparant to me that she had some regrets about the Dr she had chosen for my birth.

My Mom and Dad didn't know about Dr Bradley . They did what they were told to do,there was no medical emergency as Mom was truly progressing fine, just not fast enough for her Dr. Its sad, I wish I had a better story to tell, I wish I knew what my birth story would have been like sans c-section so I could have a better idea of what my daughters birth will be like. But the good thing is that I believe this has made me who I am today. I did lots of investigation before I chose my providers, we are on the same page. While the last thing they want for me is a c-section or episiotomy, they are wise in that if a true emergency does present itself these things can and will be considered, but only if there is a serious risk.

So my birth story has made me who I am today. It has inspired me to question authority, think for myself and perhaps most important, love and appreciate my Mother for going through such a difficult time bringing me into the world! That is the biggest blessing of all, being born. Even if my daughter does not get the birth that I desire for her, I'll be thankful for the miracle that is her life.

Week 37

2008-09-13T12:09:00.002-05:00

I'm looking out the window and it looks like it's getting a bit windy. I'm ready for the rain, but not the wind so much.

Each day Mr Cheese and I grow closer to meeting our little miracle, we sure are excited!
I have this feeling that she will look a lot like Mr Cheese!

I feel really prepared at this point. Lots of classes, books, discussion has all taken place. I have the most wonderful and supportive providers EVER! I would have never envisioned such wonderful ladies taking care of me. To me, they are not just providers, but friends. How many people leave each visit feeling better, empowered and uplifted? How many people leave each visit with a warm hug of womanly friendship? That's what I get to experience. I never feel rushed, or like a burden. I feel valued, I'm not a number, not a statistic, but a human being with feelings. I also adore my Bradley teacher, she's informative, spunky and very knowledgeable. I've been lucky to meet other pregnant women with due dates close to mine, their personalities can light up a room! Something to be said for surrounding oneself with positive people.

I'm still attending pre-natal yoga. Still pretty flexible too. I would recommend pre-natal yoga to anyone - it's very relaxing and it's great for stretching out the back, hips and glutes. I wish I could practice yoga in a class setting each day.

I'm still on bedrest - I have many things that I want to do around the house, but can't right now. It's incredible how quickly the weeds grow in the flower beds. It feels strange to not be able to just go out and pull them, but that wouldn't be good for my blood pressure now would it. Since I'm a Type B personality please rest assured that I'm pretty good about "taking it easy." But I've never been in such a predicament before, so it's very strange.

Baby Cheese had a songogram earlier this week. She was sticking out her tongue! It was so cute. She is looking great! Any day now, we hope (like most couples do) that she makes her debut sooner as opposed to later.

I'm still concerned about Pugcheesy though, he is going to make co-sleeping in the bed difficult or, not possible at all. After 4 years of being a Type A, Alpha Male Pug Pack Leader, I don't think it would be right to expect him to sleep in a bed, on the floor. I would like to call in Cesar Milan, he would understand PugCheesy better than I can. I know a lot of it is my fault. I have done some pretty silly things just for a laugh. I have an odd sense of humor, and pushing him in the stroller and buying him fancy things make me laugh, and bring joy to my existence. Now I'll have a real baby to do these things with and Pugcheesy will probably have the moxie to get miffed at me.

Doyle is going to be more important than ever, as he is Pugcheesys babysitter and my "buffer".

I am a true dork!

36 Weeks

2008-09-05T19:40:00.003-05:00

Well, here I am, 36 weeks along! I'm quite tired these days and I'm keeping myself in a relaxed state throughout the day. Anything that could cause my blood pressure to go up, I refrain from doing. It's getting easier not to do some of the stuff I want to (like vacuum) because I'm simply tired.

I think I'm pretty much ready to go as far as having all the *stuff* that baby will need. There are about 3 things I still need to get, but they can wait.

I miss the way I used to shop, go out, fit into my old pants and shirts. But I know this will be all worth it. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, questioning if I can really handle raising another person. Deep down, I know I can, but it sure is going to be quite a task!

It's been a sad week in many ways too. I found out that my Grandmother has breast cancer and one of my cousins needs a serious surgery. A lot of things are up in the air for a lot of people right now. I'm saying a lot of prayers. Please keep my family members in your thoughts and prayers.

THE Cake

2008-08-29T11:02:00.002-05:00

Imagine that this cake tastes even better than it looks!
Thank you Sarah!

Nursery Update!

2008-08-29T10:39:00.006-05:00

Sorry this is so late! Not long ago my awesome Mother in Law and Aunt Beth came to paint the nursery! It is an original design by Aunt Beth and I don't think it could look any cuter! My Aunt Mary Ellen did a remarkable job on the sewing! She made the cornice board for window treatment (photos coming in the future) along with the crib bumper pads and the crib skirt (not to mention an adorable basket lined with matching crib skirt fabric that she found!)

We really are blessed to have all of this help, I know I couldn't do it all by myself. Especially since I'm on bedrest for high blood pressure lately. I'm just trying to relax, so if I'm out of the loop, you'll know why:)

Notice Pugcheesy and Cheesador Retriever in the nursery decor? Brilliant idea from Aunt Beth - Baby Cheese is going to get a kick out of her brothers!

What A Weekend!

2008-08-17T22:16:00.005-05:00

It has been a whirlwind weekend, the kind that you need to take your mind off of the few bad things in life, and make you remember that you have so many things to be truly grateful for. They just make all of the little, meaningless, things dissolve away.

My MIL and FIL came to town on Thursday night and on Friday we went to by BIL and SIL's casa and had drinks, cake and yummy shrimp scampi & celebrated Mr. Cheese's MBA accomplishment. On Saturday night we celebrated at perhaps the most renowned restaurant in Dallas. The food, the service and the ambiance could not have been better. I also enjoyed the after dinner drinks on the patio. The weather was even ideal for such a night. Certainly a memory that I will always remember and treasure.

Today was Baby Cheese's THIRD party, it was very well done (I think) even though things seemed to come together at the last minute, the details were perfect(but I'm not a type A personality, so what do I know?). My Sister In Law ordered and purchased the most beautiful, delicious cake ever & it was a real crowd pleaser, she ordered all the food too, and it turned out to be exceptionally delicious. My friend Jenn hosted the party at her house and it was the perfect setting - she also made her famous spa water :) My Mother in Law helped out too, by helping me hire the band and assisting with the food and drinks. Our niece, Margaret was such a little helper too!

I will not need to buy clothes for Baby Cheese for a long time! I received so much cute stuff and it was great to see all of my friends and family. It's really something how everyone loves buying clothes for a baby girl.

We also squeezed in a portion of our very first Bradley Class before the shower. I can't wait to go to the next classes in the upcoming weeks. It's just awesome and informative, a real learning experience. LOVE IT! The teacher is amazing!

Ok- this is all turning from surreal to very REAL. I keep saying that and it is the truth.

xoxox

Congratulations Mr. Cheese!

2008-08-09T12:19:00.005-05:00

Mr Cheese just finished his MBA program from a top ranked school, and I am SO VERY proud of him. He is such a smart man! Things that perplex me, come so simply for him, I hope Baby Cheese inherits his analytical thinking! Mr. Cheese spent the day golfing with friends and coworkers and we are having a party at the Casa De Cheese here tonight. One thing the Cheese Family knows how to do well is Celebrate!

Next week Mr. Cheese's Mommy and Daddy are coming in to celebrate his accomplishment and to celebrate the coming of Baby Cheese. It should be an action packed weekend & I'm looking forward to it very much.

I also have many other great announcements to make! My brother, Uncle Danny Cheese is engaged to be married!! We are so happy for him and are looking forward to celebrating this with him in the spring. Once of my closest cousins, Markle Sparkle is getting married today and I really wish I could be with everyone in Ohio today.

This is a not so great announcment, AT ALL but it is perhaps one of the most important. Please pray for my Aunt T. and her family, as my cousin Kenny appears to have a serious heart condition and they are getting mixed opinions from the MD's.

Love to everyone!

Enjoying Some Time with GrandMaMa

2008-08-03T14:03:00.003-05:00

My Momma is in town & we are enjoying each others company. She certainly helped get Baby Cheese's closet in order and helped move out items that may need to be disposed of shortly so that when my Mother In Law and Aunts come to help paint and decorate the nursery the job will run smoother.

She is also cooking today, I'm so hungry...soo sooo hungry. I'm also glad I don't need to cook!

I am also enjoying the time off and away from my very stressful job. It's nice to know that I have the next few days off.

This morning we went to mass, then out for crepes, it was nice. I LOVE crepes!
My Mom is hard to keep up with though, it's really hot here in Texas and she was all about shopping her first full day here. I'm happy to report back that I survived quite well.

I've been feeling more tired lately, and I'm getting more irritable too and small tasks seem to take more out of me than usual. I guess it's all part of only having about 6-8 weeks left before Baby Cheese.

I'm still not as huge as I had envisioned I would be, but there certainly is a belly, and a baby moving about.

My Mom seems to like my VitaMix quite a bit. Since she has arrived it has been in constant use. She also is getting into my green "superfood" powder. Can't say I blame her, that stuff is great.

And oh, almost forgot, I just found out that I get really anal when I see someone else working in my kitchen. I walk around and pick up after Mom the entire time, tell her how to do things, etc. I don't remember always being like this. It's just my kitchen, I am weird about how things are done, cut, cleaned wiped up etc. Is this pregnancy or is it the REAL me? I honestly don't know.

Also, the song, Fields of Athenry, brings TONS of TEARS to my eyes anytime I listen to it. It's sooo soo sad, and one day, I will need to post about why it makes me cry so.

Cute Little Quiz

2008-07-27T23:03:00.001-05:00

As a 1930s wife, I am
Superior

Take the test!

Baby Belly - 30 weeks!

2008-07-24T16:25:00.002-05:00

I have been wearing the same brown shirt in all of the past photos. The shirt I'm sporting today is the same cut and style, different color. You still get a really great idea of my current size. Perhaps the lighter color has me appear larger though?

Things are getting REAL now!

Time Flies Like An Arrow

2008-07-19T11:49:00.004-05:00

Time sure does fly. I remember trying to think of what I needed to do when I was 6 weeks pregnant. And the sage advice was just take it easy, don't exhaust yourself, eat better and start thinking of how you want to raise and birth your baby. After you hit the 3 month mark, then the 5 month mark you will know more and be more stable and prepared. Well, not it's nearly the 7.5 mark and I feel like I'm ready to clean house, like never before. Lots of things just take up space and need to go.

We just received a crib and crib mattress from my wonderful mother and father in law and Mr. Cheese is going to be busy assembling this today :) I'm going to get out the video camera so Baby Cheese can see how much he is doing for her and how much he loves her already.

There is lots to do, when things get assembled I will try to post pics!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful weekend. Time to forget about the workweek!

Update: We did not get started on the crib yet - too much work to do with school etc.
Mr Cheese only has two more classes left, and this last one is rougher than he anticipated. All of the preparation is hitting us like a ton of bricks!

Cutest Videos EVAH!

2008-07-13T12:52:00.002-05:00

These kiddos are lucky enough to have dogs when they are so young!
I always feel sorry for kids without dogs, as I can't imagine not having grown up with animals. I think they teach kids how to share and have fun! These videos will melt your heart!

Relaxing Saturday

2008-07-12T17:23:00.003-05:00

Things are going well, it sure is hot in July! I've been starting my last 3 Saturdays off with pre-natal yoga. I really enjoy it, it's very relaxing and I think it will help me out with my pregnancy and labor. I really want to get back into my daily walking routine but this heat makes it hard. I'm not an early riser, and by the time it cools off at night I'm in bed. Wishing I had a treadmill (but I really don't want one because of the space they take up).

Just bought some cloth diapers from www.cottonbabies.com - they are adorable and look like they will be awesome. I ordered the bum genius 3.0 & the bum genious 3.0 organic cotton. There is nearly a $10 cost difference, and in order to know which one I truly prefer I will have to actually wait for baby to come and put them to use. Right now I think my preference is leaning towards the original 3.0 - it seems simpler, but who knows.

I also purchased a German clutching toy that is soo totally adorable and made from leead free paint. The Germans sure know how to make some adorable toys!

We needed a finishing touch for our office and I had to drag the hubby to Ikea.
Ikea is full of so many cool things. It's a shame that hubby doesn't enjoy it as much as I do. However, my shopping tolerance is pretty low these days. Shopping wears me out and I find it stressful. I much prefer shoppin online now and in the future!

The baby is moving around a lot. Before I go to bed each night I hook up my ipod to a nice pair of headphones that Mr. Cheese bought us and play Mozart, Beethoven, Stan Getz, Irish Fiddle Music, and an assortment of classical music. This normally gets her moving - and lately if I watch my belly I can see it move. It's pretty cool. When I draw Mr. Cheese's attention to my belly, PugCheesy begins to get jealous. You may ask...what is a pug doing on the bed with you. Ever since he was first allowed on our bed (3-4 weeks after we brought him home) there was no going back.

This pug is going to have a real wake up call soon!

Letter to Baby Cheese

2008-07-06T06:12:00.002-05:00

Dear Sweet Baby Girl,
I am so happy to know you are on your way into this world! I'll never forget the day that I knew for sure, it was Groundhog Day February 2, 2008 and I spoke to your Godmother Jessie and said I thought that I could be pregnant, she said that I better buy a test. I thought that even though I could be, I probably wasn't because I was feeling better than I had in my entire life. Jessie insisted I find out for sure so later that night, while your father was studying I bought 3 tests from the grocery store. After I took the first test it came up positive, and I knew at that moment that my life would change forever. Tears of joy came down to my cheeks, I felt nothing but happiness and surprise - this was really going to happen to me? I knew I couldn't keep this secret from your Father- not even for 5 minutes. But he was studying for school and I didn't want to tell him by phone so I waited for him to arrive home. He came home at around 9pm and as he walked through the door I informed him that we were expecting. He was surprised and needed to sit down, he also asked if I was joking with him. I assured him that I would never joke about something so serious. It wasn't long before he was just as excited as I was.

I already knew where I wanted to give birth to you, and how I wanted to raise you. Your father and I are on the same page as far as education and care are concerned, and I thank G-d for this, because I feel that these things are very important. I have started going to church because I want you to have a good solid moral background & a loving community. You are already making me a better person.

I pray to G-d everyday that he will make me worthy of being a mother, that he will grant me more patience and understanding.

Baby Girl, I think you should know that so many people are excited for you. You have already touched so many lives. Even though, I may never be truly ready, I can't wait to meet you! I know you will be the perfect mix of your father and me! It will be hard to see you go through this journey called life, because it isn't easy, but there will be moments where it is blissful. I'm looking forward to everything being more important, fun and joyful because you will be with us!

I love you & can't wait to see you! It won't be long!

xxoxoox
Mama

27 Weeks

2008-07-05T17:26:00.001-05:00

The Lovable & Sweet Mr Cheese

2008-07-03T06:16:00.003-05:00

Yesterday as Mr. Cheese arrived home from work, he brought with him 2 dozen roses for me!! I was so happy, as it was for no reason at all. Mr Cheese has always been an excellent husband, but he is even more thoughtful and sweet since we became pregnant. I just know that when Baby Cheese arrives, I will see a whole new side to him and he will suddenly transform into this amazing, CheesyDaddy.

We are very much in love, and I thank my lucky stars that we found each other!!

Things I never expected

2008-07-01T20:39:00.003-05:00

Some things I never expected (or thought about) with regard to pregnancy:

1. I use more toilet paper than I thought possible, constant restroom usage!
Oye Vaye!

2. Other women (complete strangers) sure are nice - this is a first! It told one of my
cousins that it's like "A Secret Society of Mothers" and I now qualify. All you
have to do is get preggers and you are instantly automatically enlightend and
accepted by women that you previously had nothing in common with (or that's how it
feels to me).

3. Generosity coming from all over my little corner of the world! Some folks have
already given me swings,clothes,bouncers and activity thingys.

4. Who would have thought that so many family members would want to assist with
decorating and nursery design?

5. Several co workers & friends have requested to be invited to the baby's party. I
refuse to call it a "shower". It is a soiree in honor of Baby Cheese.

I (We) Have Literally Created a Monster

2008-06-29T20:12:00.002-05:00

The past few weeks I have noticed my pug becoming irritated with me and wanting my attention & affection more than usual. He is annoyed that he can't sleep right next to me like he used to, because I need the comfort from a body pillow it creates a barrier between he and I that he was not used to. He cannot fall asleep without being right next to me (touching). When I was on vacation I found that it is hard for me to sleep without him by my side. I find his snoring to be soothing, I just adore him. He is the pack leader in our house, that can be a problem because when he feels threatened by another person he exhibits one behavior that makes me angry -- the marking of the territory.

The first time we noticed it was when my cousing Ryan stayed with us last summer. Ryan is a very tall guy - he is about 6'7 and wears a size 17 shoe. Pugcheesy was threatened by his large stature and began to pee all over any belonging Ryan left on the floor in his room. We got smart and decided to keep the doors closed after we realized this. But he is starting to do it again now, and I'm pretty sure it's because of Baby Cheese. Pugcheesy peed in the bathroom the other day, which was weird.

I know he thinks he's really macho but he is going to end up wearing a diaper if he keeps this crap up. He was neutered a long time ago, when he was 6 months old.
Because he is small and nice (has never even threatened to bite anyone in his 4 years of life) I can tolerate him as pack leader. I just want to know how to stop his pee issue.

When the baby comes I'm sure he'll be put out, but he has Cheeseador Retreiver to cuddle with if I am not available. Also, he loves kids, especially toddlers and up - when the baby begins to walk and crawl he will become her best friend, I'm sure of it.

Courtyard Obsession

2008-06-27T17:12:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I was obsessed with making the courtyard "hibiscus heaven" - notice my prego shadow beyond the blossom :)

The courtyard is under construction - constant improvement is needed.

Mr. Cheese = Total Sweetness

2008-06-24T20:20:00.002-05:00

A while back I posted photos of my doggies to the right hand side of the blog. Mr. Cheese asked why he wasn't represented. I informed him that I didn't know he had an active interest in this blog and didn't know he wanted to be "represented". He then told me that he would like to be featured as part of the blog, and I was honored. I then placed a cool photo of him with his snowboard in Steamboat, and he was not happy with that photo. It seems that he doesn't mind having his face featured on the blog, so I finally updated it to show him as my favorite, little businessman :)

I was happily surprised that he wanted a photo of himself up here. I guess I'm the one who has an issue with my face showing, I'm sure I'll get over that soon. I always find Mr. Cheese to be so sweet. With this pregnancy he just grows sweeter by the day!

We just got over a very eventful weekend. I had a girls night out on Friday, and he had a Guys night out. We pulled into the garage at the exact same time (about 11pm) we came home and crashed - hard. These days I sleep LIKE A ROCK. It is wonderful. On Saturday we rested up and then went to a birthday celebration for one of my most excellent co-workers. Mr Cheese was shocked to see how happy these people are (and they don't even drink a lot!). These are the kind of people that my mother always wanted me to hang out with - that even play charade games! On Sunday I felt bad for not cleaning and accomplishing much on Saturday so I went to church at 8am - went to Home Depot, Target and the produce market. I bought lots of flowers for the courtyard and managed to work outside quite a bit. By the end of the day my back was killing me and the house was better off. Mr Cheese vacuumed and studied.

This work week isn't bad so far, but I am certainly busy. I'm trying to manage the stress better and feel that I'm doing a better job of it. I just have to remember that I can only accomplish so much in one day. I will give it my best shot, but I refuse to get emotional or stress over it. We'll see how long I can stick with this mantra. I probably have one of the most stressful jobs out there (aside from police officer and EMT). A stressful DESK job is what I have.

Wish me luck!

25 weeks along!

2008-06-20T16:22:00.001-05:00

Ok, I can so see the growth here, it's been about 1.5-2 weeks since the last photo.

Is it Friday Yet?

2008-06-18T18:10:00.004-05:00

Last weekend was great! Last Friday, June 13th was Mr. Cheese's birthday and there was some serious fun to be had! I took him by his request to Rafain. He was tired on Friday because he enjoyed a happy hour after work, in honor of his birthday on Thursday evening. Before we went to Rafain he went to the movie theatre to see the opening of "The Happening". For his birthday I gave him, The Office Season 3, and a Sigg Water bottle. He seemed super happy, I think I did okay :)

On Saturday night we went out with a friend and his new fiance! I was able to meet her for the very first time and I'm convinced that they already make an amazing couple! They brought along their 2.5 year old boy and he behaved like an angel. They informed us that this behavior is not unusual for him. Now I know who to seek advice from! Saturday night we did family style at Maggiano's -- uhhmm can't go wrong there - the fried zuchinni is THE best! I love to see awesome people find each other! Yay!

I think Mr. Cheese had a great weekend/week. He simply LOVES to be fussed over, whether he admits it or not. Lucky for me, he is very fun to fuss over :)

What Kind of Diapers Should I Use?

2008-06-10T18:14:00.005-05:00

So now that I'm going to be a new Mom in approximately 3 months, I've been seriously thinking about what kind of diapers I should use. I want to analyze every angle and find out which would be best for my baby. This is one of the reasons why I'm having my first child now, a few years ago, I would not have really given this matter much thought.

I have always thought that disposable diapers seem wasteful, but I also feel that I shouldn't judge others for their choices. Don't most people use disposables anyway? It seems that most people don't think about diapers very much. But I saw a post about saving money and cutting costs and the author mentioned cotton diapers, they also mentioned that the disposable brands (for the most part) contain chemicals like dioxin which certainly can't be good for anyone, especially baby. I also read an article that linked disposable diapers with asthma and allergies. All of these factors make me feel pretty upbeat about cloth diapers.

Not to mention that you can now find cloth diapers in cute patterns, and nice bright colors and there are some brands that make a one size fits all that allow the diaper to adjust from 8lbs to 35lbs! Also, children that wear cloth tend to potty train quicker.

Disadvantages would be that I will be doing more laundry! One would think that it would be grosser but, I've read that some Moms think the disposables smell worse and are grosser, so that appears to be subjective.

I think my baby would want me to do cloth diapers, because it is what is best for her. I didn't know that some tampons have dioxin in them (if not all?) I just found this out from reading about diapers, so I'm going to have to change the products that I use as well. If my baby is anything like me,(and heck, she has my genes!) then I know she will be happy with this decision. The chemicals in disposable diapers alone have me running for the cloth at this point.

I will also get the added plus of knowing that I am not being wasteful and contributing to the gross, massive diaper landfill! The upfront cost of using cloth diapers is more, but the overall savings really adds up. Especially if I can use them for baby #2 if and when they should ever come along!

Doe anyone else have any diaper advice or recomendations?

*Note: I ended up going with bum genius 3.0 "All In One's" - It was a GREAT decision!

Baby Belly -- 23 Weeks

2008-06-09T17:49:00.002-05:00

Probably not much difference from last week - but here it is!

Mr Cheese's Birthday Week

2008-06-07T10:25:00.002-05:00

Mr Cheese sure knows how to throw down on his birthday. We started last night at Texas de Brazil - why not, it was buy one meal get one free. The last time we went, I was unable to eat very much but this time I had quite a bit to eat. It is an experience of complete "wretched excess", which is phrase that is popular amongst Mr. Cheese's Mommy & Daddy who enjoy eating :)

Mr Cheese is in super high spirits because he is nearly finished with his MBA now and he has done well and can envision free time in his future! For his birthday I bought him a Sigg Flask. I have a few more ideas up my sleeve, but the most important one is cleaning this house up for Mr Cheese. I am not a great housekeeper, but will try to redeem myself. I'm looking forward to the actual "celebration" next Friday!

Enjoy the weekend. Mine is off to a beautiful start!

Feeling Like This Strange Woman

2008-06-04T19:44:00.002-05:00

So yeah, lately I have moments where I feel the crazy hormones making me stressed, irrational and yeah just plain "reactive" to life. It is all during the workday though, I have a somewhat stressful job where people are pissed off all the time and I get to deal with it. Not exactly ideal for a hormonal woman but hey, I gotta pay the bills somehow.

So it all started today and I caught myself over reacting, making mountains out of molehills.

I'm ready for Friday! Today is officially 23 weeks! The belly is seriously growing now, before you know it, I am going to be totally obviously pregnant!

Mr Cheese continues to rock the hut, the man is incredibly fun, he was in the best mood ever yesterday. He is totally dealing with this in such an ideal way. I kind of think that he is more ready for parenthood than I am. He is like, one of those "old souls" always serious, responsible and supportive in the way he should be. Nobody is perfect but he is as close to perfection as a man comes (in my opinion!). I really enjoyed our conversation over dinner yesterday.

I'm just glad that my hormonal problems only affect me at work, and not at home. I'm all good once I get home, there is no stress here. Hallelujah!

My Growing Belly - 22 Weeks

2008-06-01T14:23:00.001-05:00

The Cheese is No Longer Alone

2008-06-01T14:11:00.003-05:00

My Aunt T. sent me an email and reminded me that I'm not really alone. She is so right about that. I think feeling alone is something that we all deal with at some point in our life. As a child, it really didn't bother me, in highschool it did. I think the environment that I was exposed to (city living with a tight knit family) as a young kid always held some security for me. I remember being different but always having friends. When we moved 45 miles south, it felt different, the country kids were just...not like the city kids. Even though I was "The Cheese" constantly in the city, I never thought it was such a bad thing, always had my gang of friends. I was my own person and in the city, that was o.k. maybe even encouoraged. I can't say the same for the way I felt in "the country". Kids were meaner, and if your family was new to the area and didn't have roots it could take the people (not just the kids) 15 years to warm up to you!!! I kid you not!

But thank goodness, highschool and my time in that little hick town has now ended. I have Mr Cheese, Our extended families, friends and doggies to share the joys of life with. I love where we live & the people are great, I even dig the HOT AS HECK weather!

This is one Happy Cheese!

Weekending!

2008-06-01T14:03:00.003-05:00

Just came back from the grocery store and all I can say is, it's fire-hot out there.
Being pregnant makes it difficult to enjoy my favorite time of year. I love how Texas is warm almost year round, but it is so warm right now that just walking back from the grocery store is rather strenuous. I'm finally starting to get a real baby belly on me! I started off by buying clothes that were too baggy and big, thinking that this would be wise. I started to feel frumpy and a bit sad, like I let my appearance go down the drain. So yesterday I went to Motherhood and bought a cute pair of jeans, black pants, 2 dresses and some fitted cotton shirts. I feel a lot better now, but the jeans are only good if I plan to say inside all day.

I always feel the need to use the restroom too. When the baby kicks she must be kicking my bladder because after some movements, I feel the need to go even if I just went! I'm not even in the third trimester so I can't even imagine how crazy the bathroom trips are going to get! I have always consumed LOTS of water but this is just wild!

Mr Cheese is busy working on his studies, Baby Cheese has inspired him to work harder, do great things etc. He was already like that but Baby Cheese is just making him an even more serious worker.

The Site I have Always Dreamed Of!

2008-05-31T16:26:00.001-05:00

**First off, I would like to thank Hilary for designing this site! She did an awesome job, and I'm so thankful for her help!

Welcome to my new place - hope ya like the theme. I need a spot to keep friends and family around the country informed on "A Day In the Life of - THE CHEESE!" Being "The Cheese" I have always felt like an outsider, a late bloomer, and a freakish oddball of sorts. I'm finally starting to get over all of that and live my life. It all started around the time I met Mr. Cheese. Mr. Cheese is also an oddball and loner. However, our personalities are different enough where it "all works out". I'm the talkative one, he is pensive and quiet (most of the time!).

So Baby Cheese is coming and we know she is a girl, I'm all excited to find out who she looks like, where her interests lie. Will she study Economics in college? Will she want to take Irish dancing classes? Ah, the possibilities are endless. I just need to remember that she will be her own unique person and I need to help find what she excels at and do everything I can to assist her in learning,loving and living.

So far I think that Baby Cheese likes BBQ, pizza and fresh fruit. Mr. Cheese just bought some headphones so I can put them on my tummy, currently she enjoys the sounds of Mozart, Bach and Chopin.

I hope you enjoy this new location and design, I even drew the little cheese myself. If you are a family member who knew me when I was 5 this is probably very familiar!

xoxoox Hugs and Kisses to you all!

THE Cheese