Currently (7-12-12)

Currently I am...

Missing my family. I know I just saw my parents for a week, but it only made me miss them more. And don't even get me started on my brothers and their families. I'm eagerly awaiting our next trip north when I'll get to spend time with all of them together! It's going to be phenomenal!!

Dreaming of baby Walker #2. There are some days when it doesn't seem like it's ever going to happen, and then there are so many MORE times that I realize how perfect it is right now with just us and Gus. The dynamics change so much when you have a second (and third and fourth) child. Am I crazy to be a bit sad to think of how it'll change things? I absolutely love Gus and can't fathom having to divide my love and attention between him and a sibling. Yet, on the other hand, I am starting to get itchy for another baby. Gus is going to be such a great big brother and I'm eager to start the process because who knows how long it'll take before we are matched and able to become parents again. It could be really quick (like with Gus), or could take years. With adoption, you just never know.

Loving that we FINALLY got an offer on our house in NC!! It's lower than we had hoped, but we've accepted and signed the paperwork tonight. I'm so thankful to be done with the selling of this house. I hope we don't have to sell another house EVER. It's been the longest, hardest seven months. It'll be nice to NOT have two mortgage payments, to pay back some personal loans, and to finally start building up our savings again!!

Laughing at how funny Gus is. He's such a turkey and has such a fantastic personality. I truly enjoy him and think he's so hilarious. Today, he decided that he wanted popcorn for his snack. So, he went to the pantry and asked me to open it, then he pulled out a bag of popcorn and handed it to me to open. I said, "You want popcorn for your snack?" He replied, "Co" (his way of saying popcorn I guess). I opened the package and lifted him up to open the microwave (his favorite part) and then let him press the POPCORN button. Then I put him down and he ran to the cabinet where Steve keeps his popcorn bowl. Gus waited for me to open the lock, then he grabbed his daddy's popcorn bowl, and then closed the door and tried to put the lock back on it. It was so funny!

Wishing that God grant me patience with everything. I tend to get crazy focused on things until they happen. It drives Steve crazy. I ask for patience with starting the adoption process again. I ask for patience with planning our November trip to Disney, and I ask for patience when it comes to my weight-loss and exercise routine.

A Year of Gratitude #114

 

A Year of Gratitude #114: The Patience of Others

This morning Gus and I headed to Newtown Park to meet Christy, Pilar, Leslie, and Kimberly for a walk before our playgroup playdate. We had planned on walking before the playdate and then staying at the park and having the kids play there. Kathryn hurt her ankle and was going to just come to the park to meet us.

I was so glad to see that the temperatures for this morning were in the upper 40s/low 50s. PERFECT walking/jogging/running weather if you ask me. I honestly do not know how I'm going to be able to get out and get moving when it's in the 90s. 

We met up and got started on our walk. The loop around the park is just over a mile and quite hilly. It wasn't too much uphill, but it wasn't flat. I felt a burn in my shins and calves that I had not felt in quite some time. When I mentioned to Christy that my shins were on fire she said, "That's a good thing!" Yes... I suppose she was right! If it's burning... you're exercising parts that haven't been exercised in a while!

We walked for about 45 minutes and while I didn't stop at all (I wanted to... believe me), I made it. We didn't run or jog, but we walked at a somewhat brisk pace. It was definitely faster than a casual stroll. At one point the stroller was a lot to push, so Christy offered to push it since Ryan (her son) was in the double stroller with Logan, and Pilar was pushing that.

It was much easier to just walk and not have to worry about the stroller, but it made me think about how it'll be when the time comes to start jogging. I can't even picture myself as a jogger/runner. I think it's because I'm so out of shape, all I can focus on now is picturing myself as active and moving. That's what counts.

I'm thankful that I had four wonderful friends to walk with this morning and that they were very patient with me. Pilar has run a marathon, and she, Christy and Leslie just ran a 5K this past Saturday. They're movers and I am so grateful that they were patient with my pace, and my need to walk instead of jogging or running. 

When we finished, Kimberly gave me a high-five and said, "We did it!" She also wants to start walking/jogging/running and was excited to get out and get moving this morning.

The weather couldn't have been nicer. It was a bit breezy, but I was working up a sweat as I was walking and it felt good to me. 

I'm proud of myself for getting out there and getting 45 minutes of cardio in for the day. I had an apple for breakfast and drank a TON of water. I've been keeping a food journal by using an app that a friend suggested (Lose It). It has helped me stay focused. I entered how much I want to lose and how many pounds a week, and it said that I should be able to meet my goal by April of 2013. So... that's a year. A lot can happen in a year, but my goal is to be running my first 5K in a year... so why not run it at my current goal weight? 

BTW-- it's one year to reach the goal that I set for me at the weight that I am today. It's not the optimal weight for me to be... Once I reach the goal in April 2013, I will reset my goal again and keep striving to attain it. 

Maybe... just maybe... by losing weight, I will be able to get pregnant. Who knows... anything is possible. I just know that carrying additional weight is linked to infertility and maybe that's part of my problem.

Anyway- I'm grateful for the patience and support of my walking pals from today. I look forward to walking with them again!!