Mommy Metamorphosis: 80 pounds gone!

I am so excited and pleased to announce that since June 2012, I have lost 80 pounds!!!

Last Summer our family completely changed the way we eat. We did it for the good of everyone in the family, but especially because I hit my limit of being overweight. I was so tired of feeling uncomfortable in my clothes, feeling uncomfortable being in pictures with my kids, being upset by pictures of myself, tired of feeling tired, and tired of not enjoying certain aspects of my life merely because of my own body and weight hang-ups.

Diet

Steven is the main culinary expert at our house and he whole-heartedly accepted the challenge of feeding our family in a way that would be good for all of us, but also help me to hopefully lose the weight. And what do we eat? We eat Bacon. LOTS of bacon!!!! ;) And local pastured eggs cooked in the bacon grease! That's been my breakfast most of the time since we started on this new weight loss adventure. And I have lost most of these pounds while eating bacon and eggs every morning! Nothing low fat or fake. Bacon and Eggs! My point being, we eat real food. We eat unprocessed food. We eat meat, animal fat, butter, vegetables (cooked in animal fat or butter!), fruit, milk, and cheese. Plenty of homemade bone broth, plenty of good saturated fats, plenty of local raw milk (from a trusted farmer), and we also attempt to eat as much as possible from local sources. Pastured, grass fed, ethically-raised, non-gmo, local food is the ideal. We aren't always able to do that perfectly, but it's the goal. We cook with either butter or coconut oil. The kinds of fats that aren't made toxic by heat.

If you wanted to put a label on our "diet" it would be closest to what is known as "Paleo" or "Primal." It's a grain-free diet focused on meat and produce.

What I Carefully Avoid

Anything "low fat." Unless it is naturally low fat such as vegetables and fruit, but God didn't make cows give us "low fat milk" and real milk from healthy cows does not make "low fat cheese." I do not consider "low fat foods" to be real food or healthy food. They are processed and modified from the way nature intended. Fat occurs in our food naturally for a reason. Fat is important. Taking it out is not healthy.

Exercise

I started doing Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred last Summer (2012) and I've done it off and on with some regularity ever since. I find it extremely challenging, but effective and I love that it is just 20 minutes. Anyone can squeeze in 20 minutes. I started running in the fall and in November 2012 I ran my first half-marathon. I also ran an 8k later in November. I ran another half-marathon in February and a 5k in March. I enjoy running and walking and 30 Day Shred for my workouts most of the time. But honestly, the diet change has been far more important to my overall health, wellness, and weight loss than the exercise. The exercise has merely boosted my weight loss a bit along the way.

The Keys to My Success

1. A very supportive husband/family. I couldn't have done it without his willingness to help at every step of the way and his being my biggest cheerleader.
2. Real, permanent changes to my diet. It really is a lifestyle change.
3. NOT feeling deprived by finding great and healthy replacements for all my old comfort foods.
4. Finding out how delicious and satisfying real healthy food can be and learning how good I can feel while eating this way.

Now that I've lost 80 pounds I feel...

• Like a new woman.
• I don't hate pictures of myself.
• I am proud of my accomplishments.
• I feel healthy and strong.

I have gone from a size 20/22 to a size 10. I have gone from size XXL/1X down to size M/L.

Do I still have body insecurity issues? OF COURSE! I think it is a lifelong struggle to overcome those. But I do have much more confidence now. I feel much more comfortable in my own skin. I don't intend to be "done" by any means and I had hoped that this post would be a "100 pounds lost!" post, however - it is coming off so extremely slowly now that it could be another year before I'm able to say that I've lost 100 pounds. However, I am GREATLY looking forward to that and have every expectation that I will eventually meet that goal!

Now for the best part....

Before and After Pictures!!!

What Being an ICAN Leader Means to Me

Our ICAN chapter has thrived and grown by leaps and bounds. Our local hospitals boast a climbing c-section rate getting dangerously close to 40%- which is sad and ridiculous. C-sections happening at that rate are doing way more harm than good and are unnecessarily risking moms and babies. It's obvious how much our community needs an ICAN chapter by how quickly our chapter is growing. We have new moms showing up at nearly every single meeting.

The moms that attend our meetings have found that (for a variety of reasons) birth matters to them. Having the best birth for themselves and their babies matters to them. Avoiding ridiculously unnecessary and risky surgery matters to them. Understanding what the best birth practices are according to the latest research is important to them. Knowing what care providers to avoid, what questions to ask, and what red flags to be aware of are important to these moms. Knowing all their options matters to them. "If you don't know your options, you don't have any." It is important to know. These moms truly understand that! It's a blessing and a privilege to see.

To these women, birth is more than just a way to get the baby out. It isn't a medical event. It's a very important LIFE event in both their lives and in the lives of their babies. A rite of passage. A hugely important part of the journey to motherhood. To these moms, the experience is also very important. They want to experience the birth of their baby in the most natural and healthy way possible. They want to be active and participate. They want to feel everything - good and bad, pleasure and pain, joy and fear - all the various intricate physical, emotional, mental, hormonal, and spiritual aspects of the birthing process. It all matters. Moms and babies matter. It is all important. It's important to the healthiest outcome for both the mom and the baby. These moms get it.

What being an ICAN leader means to me....

It means staying very current on all the latest research on birth. What is evidence based? What is fear based? What are current practices and why? What current standard practices are good and which ones need to go? What does the evidence support? What does the research say about special circumstances? VBAC after multiple c-sections? Advanced maternal age? VBAC with a special scar? Breech birth? Multiples birth? Low fluid? Big babies? And so much more. We ICAN leaders are researching all of this constantly. On a daily basis I'm doing at least a little birth-related research for ICAN or for whoever needs it - I'm always happy to help in any way possible! I find myself continually up to my elbows in medical research abstracts. My eyes begin to cross, but I keep digging deeper and searching harder. Because birth is my passion.

It means being available to help when it's wanted but holding back and staying silent when it's not wanted. The women at our meetings generally want the support, the research, the information, and the help; that is why they are there. But in my day-to-day life I have friends and acquaintances who may not. They know what I do. They know what my passion is. But some do not care about the birth experience. Some do not care about evidence-based-birth practices, finding a care provider who actually tries (or knows how!!!!) to avoid unnecessary surgery, the intricacies of the process, the research, the journey, etc in the same way or to the same extent. They don't care to have to fight for something that should just be the way things are. (It's not the way things are, which is why we must fight.) I understand not wanting the fight. But I will never ever understand the not caring enough to take on the fight and it endlessly perplexes and disturbs me. But I try to accept it and move on and just be available to those who DO care and who do want and need the help, support, and information that I can offer.

It means having some of the most fulfilling experiences of my life (aside from the births of my own babies!) helping those moms who DO need the research, the information  the support etc and find it with ICAN. When they go on to have the birth of their dreams, you cannot imagine how beautiful it is to hear their stories. To feel their joy. To celebrate with them! These are the moments that I live for.

It means being the middle man between some birth professionals and moms who don't know how to find what they need. It means seeking out that doula that will attend a birth for free. It means connecting a mom with a midwife who is the right fit for the moms' needs. It means having access to one of the largest birth networks in the country and being able to go to the other leaders on occasion to ask the hardest questions.

It means getting to see moms all over this country fighting for their best birth against all odds. For some it is a huge battle. They have to want it very badly, truly understand what it is they are fighting for, and really care about evidence-based-practices to fight the way they do. A twin VBAC, a VBAC after 3-c-sections, a breech VBAC, a VBAC with a classical scar, just to name a few. It means supporting them and cheering them on. It means being inspired by incredible women every day. It means helping them fight the good fight. It means being there to listen. It means seeing what can happen when a woman believes she can do it and then finds out that SHE CAN!!! Women are incredible. We were created to do this. And we can do it.

It means supporting those that for whatever reason have a traumatic birth and are disappointed. It means meeting them where they are and being there to listen and understand. It means listening to those c-section moms who didn't want a c-section trying to process what happened to them. (Whether medically necessary or not.) It means understanding that a healthy baby is not ALL that matters. A healthy baby is a very important piece of the puzzle, yes. But the mom matters too. Her physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being matter tremendously. We are there to listen. To help her process. To let her tell her story as many times as she needs. And to provide everything we can to aid in the healing process.

It means shedding so many tears. Tears of sadness and pain. Tears of unbelievable triumph and joy. Tears for those who don't get it or who have to learn the hard way. Tears for those who do not care and for those moms who will never even realize what they are missing. Tears for all the many unnecessary c-sections. Tears for the necessary c-sections that are still traumatic or difficult. Tears for birth/maternity care in America and how incredibly messed up it is right now. Tears for the moms and babies who are being harmed in the meantime while we try to fix this mess. Tears for the moms who fight long and hard and ultimately triumph and hold their baby for the first time with a huge "I can't believe I DID IT!" grin on their faces. That right there makes all the tears and battle scars worth it. There's a very good reason I do this, and I will keep on doing it.

Ten Reasons YOU May Need to Switch Care Providers

(This applies to anyone seeking a natural birth or who wishes to avoid an unnecessary c-section regardless of whether or not you have a cesarean birth in your history.)

1. If your care provider is in a practice of 2 or more (or 8!?) doctors who may or may not be supportive of VBAC, switch care providers!!!
1. Even if you found one provider in a big practice who is sincerely supportive of VBAC, it is often the case that this provider will need to induce you in order to make certain that he/she is “on call” during your birth. This decreases your chance of successful VBAC while also increasing your risk of uterine rupture AND repeat c-section. It’s a LOSE LOSE LOSE!!!
2. If you are allowed to go into labor spontaneously you run the chance of your supportive provider NOT being on call and ending up with Dr. C-section who hates VBACs and refuses to support them.

2. If your care provider is unable or unwilling to give you his/her exact stats, switch care providers!!!
1. C-section rate? VBAC success rate? How many VBACs attended? If your provider is really supportive of your VBAC, you can expect him/her to easily and willingly share exact stats.
2. Look for a provider who is very experienced and comfortable with VBAC and has assisted in many VBAC deliveries. You should look for a provider with at least a 75% success rate with VBAC deliveries. I’ve actually seen some providers with a 95% or higher rate!
3. This bears repeating. Find a provider who is very experienced and supportive of VBAC deliveries. This person should not just be “willing” to “let you try” as a VBAC mom, but also be excited and happy for you and clearly EXPECT you to be successful!

3. If your care provider keeps using language that indicates he/she may be skeptical of your ability to give birth vaginally, switch care providers!!!
1. Look for key phrases like...
1. “Birth is unpredictable so we’ll see what happens.”
2. “I’ll let you try, but I require certain things just in case...”
3. “IF you go into labor by (set deadline) and IF you progress at (set rate of labor progression), then you MIGHT be able to have a VBAC.”

4. If your care provider does not give accurate and up-to-date evidence based statistics, birth practices, or information in general, switch care providers!!!
1. This puts some of the responsibility on you to look up the current practice bulletins, know the latest VBAC research, rupture stats, induction stats, best birth practices, etc. So do your homework so that you will know if your provider is feeding you BS or even just their own personal biases against VBAC.

5. If your care provider at any point has an anecdotal horror story involving a VBAC that he/she feels compelled to share with you, switch care providers!!!
1. Any care provider that has clearly been “scared” by VBAC is not ultimately going to be supportive even if he/she says “I’m willing to let you try.”

6. If your care provider says he/she is supportive of VBAC, but is discouraging of your taking an independent childbirth class and/or hiring a doula switch care providers!!!
1. This may be a sign of the classic “bait and switch.” Unfortunately, it is very common. A mom may feel very supported in her desire to VBAC.... until 36 weeks when suddenly the doctor starts saying things like, “Are you still sure you want to attempt a VBAC?” (Add possible random scare tactics thrown about haphazardly to make mom feel intimidated. Maybe a scary anecdote from the past thrown in for good measure.) Run, do not walk, AWAY from this care provider. It is never too late to fire your provider until you have given birth!

7. If you genuinely LIKE your care provider but are unsure of their ability to support your VBAC, but are also afraid to “hurt their feelings” by switching care providers, GET OVER IT AND switch care providers!!!
1. Even if you “click” with this person and just love him/her to pieces. Even if you are best buds and have warm fuzzies every time you are together. Even if you have every single thing in the world in common. Warm fuzzies will not support your VBAC!!!!
2. It does not matter if you have organic gardening in common and love knitting together, this will not get you your VBAC.
3. Even if you are afraid to switch, it is actually unlikely that you’ll hurt anyone’s feelings. We’ve even seen moms switch and the OB didn’t even notice. They see so many moms, this is often the case. Do not EVER be afraid to switch at any point in your pregnancy.
4. You are just one person out of hundreds of patients your provider is likely seeing. You are not going to be the one to change his/her mind about VBAC. Nor should you be. Do not put yourself into that position!
5. We are talking about the health and well being of you and your baby here, it is not worth risking over fear of hurting feelings or fear of leaving someone you “get along” with. You need a provider who practices evidence based birth and believes in your ability to give birth, not a buddy with whom you can chat comfortably.

8. If your care provider does not clearly love VBAC, switch care providers!!!
1. Care providers with the best VBAC success rates honestly enjoy supporting VBAC moms and have a solid belief in the moms’ abilities to give birth normally!
2. Your provider should understand that VBAC is supported by the evidence as the option that is in the best interest of you and your baby! It will be clear from the beginning that this provider wants you to get the birth you want and will do everything possible to support you in achieving that birth.
3. If your care provider does not actually want you to be successful with VBAC in the end, you most likely won’t be.

9. If you have missed the “bait and switch” signs until the very end it is not too late to switch care providers!!!
1. If your provider is all the sudden throwing around scary stories, scary stats, or obvious scare tactics, it is still not too late to switch!
2. If your provider does a late term ultrasound and cries “LOW FLUID!” or “BIG BABY!” or even mentions that maybe you’re a little overweight and might not be able to give birth (say it with me!), switch care providers!!!

10. If you are not 100% sure that your care provider is the most VBAC supportive care provider you can find, switch care providers!!!
1. I cannot emphasize enough that just being “comfortable” with a certain care provider IS NOT ENOUGH. You may feel very trusting of this person, but if this person does not 100% believe in YOUR BODY and YOUR ABILITY to birth your baby, all the comfort and trust in the world will not get you the safest and healthiest birth for you and your baby!
2. A care provider that is genuinely supportive of your VBAC will not only say, “I will support you.” but also may (hopefully!) say encouraging things like, “You are a great candidate for VBAC! I see no reason why you shouldn’t be able to give birth vaginally!” This provider not only will support you, but WANTS this right alongside you and will go the distance to support every measure to get you that VBAC. This provider is practicing evidence-based medicine rather than fear-based! This is your best chance for a safe and healthy birth!

Surreal Experiences

These last few days have felt so strange. Like they aren't real. Like it's all just a bad dream. I see pictures of Christina and think there's just no way she's actually gone. It sounds ridiculous to me that this dear girl that I've been close to for the past 3 years would have left us so soon.

I was at symphony rehearsal on Tuesday evening (October 18) when my phone had a seizure in my back pocket. I received several messages/texts/phone calls/voicemails left for me ALL AT ONCE. It seriously was like a little explosion of buzzes (thankfully all silent, but I definitely felt them. :P). I knew SOMETHING was up.

I tried to discretely check messages while sitting in rehearsal (which is so unprofessional, by the way)....

"Christina is in ICU and they're suspecting a blood clot."

"Okay," I think. I'm trying to process and still stay somewhat present in rehearsal. I thought, "I'm glad she's in the ICU. I'm sure they'll take good care of her. God be with her and get her better quick. Help her family."

Rehearsal continued. More messages.

"They've got her in a medically induced coma. The goal is to keep the blood clot from reaching any vital organs."

All I could think at that point is, "This sounds really serious. Please God. Help her." All the while I was thinking - she WILL get through this. She's a fighter. She's so strong! I know God will save her. Her family needs her TOO much to lose her. I cannot lose my friend.

I was also racking my brain to think of how this could have happened to her. Why this would happen to her. Underlying causes? Related to the baby she recently lost? HOW? WHY WHY WHY!?

That night, I slept semi-peacefully still assuring myself that Christina would be okay. She had to be. It was as simple as that.

Then the next morning, the messages really started scaring me.

"She's near eternity right now. Please join us in prayer as the faithful staff at Erlanger Hospital do everything they can to save her life."

All Wednesday I sobbed and cried out to God to please save her. Her little girls need their mommy. Christian needs his wife.

Wednesday afternoon Steven dropped me off at Michelle's house with some snack foods. She drove me to the hospital where we saw Christina's oldest two girls and Christian. They were hugging each other and sobbing. Eventually Locksley (Christina's oldest girl who is 15) held Michelle's baby girl and I got to see Locksley's beautiful smile which is reminiscent of Christina. But her eyes are totally her daddy's. She's a gorgeous girl, even when it's obvious that she has been crying all day and probably had not slept.

We got the food set out for all the family in the hospital and as of that moment we were told that Christina was teetering on the edge, but from what I understood, she was about as stable as she could be at the time. Perhaps even more stable than she'd been all day. I felt a tiny glimmer of hope. Maybe it was just my optimistic interpretation of what I heard. Probably.

We stayed for a while and talked to friends and family of Christina gathered there in the halls right outside the ICU knowing she was in there somewhere. Still very near eternity. I tried not to cry, but it was futile. Silent tears welled up at nearly every thought running through my brain. I desperately wanted to see my friend again and have more gatherings with her and Michelle and Rachel like we had done so many times before. Our last one could not possibly have been THE last. No no no. I played the scene in my head of Christina waking up and visiting her in the hospital bringing her flowers and balloons and getting to tell her how scared we had been and how relieved that she's miraculously healed. I really hoped that scene would come to life soon.

It got to be around 7:15 and I needed to be at symphony rehearsal soon. I wondered if I ought to arrive late or not go or.... ??? I had no idea what I really should do. But things seemed somewhat stable and we were all praying so hard for Christina. We would get through this.

Rachel dropped me off at the Tivoli for my rehearsal. On the way (just a few blocks from the hospital downtown to the Tivoli), she and I talked about Christina and cried together for our friend (yet again).

I cried before we started rehearsing and symphony friends asked what was up. I tried to explain.

Rehearsal started. I had told Rachel and Michelle to keep me up to date no matter what. Not long after rehearsal started (7:30pm) on that fateful Wednesday evening, I received a text. I took a glance at my phone...

"Not good." was all it said.

My heart was in my throat as we continued to rehearse. It was so surreal to sit there playing intensely beautiful music while pondering what "Not good." meant. The world around me was continuing to spin while I knew that for the dear ones just a few blocks away in that hospital, time had absolutely stopped. It made no sense.

Christina was already "Not good." So I knew deep in my heart it probably meant she was gone. She was either gone or quickly on the way.

As soon as I was on break I texted Rachel, "I am on break for 15 minutes." Momentarily my phone rang. It was Rachel. Then came the words I had so dreaded for the entire day.


"She's gone."


I protested as much as I could, "What!? No!! What happened? I was just there!! She was OK. I thought we were somewhat stable? So that's it!? That's just.... IT????"

Rachel just sobbed on the other end. In the background I could hear Christina's girls and husband wailing for Christina. Completely devastated, completely uninhibited, raw grief, anguished wailing.

My friend Susan told me I should leave. But I had no car. I was depending on Laura to drive me home. (She plays in the symphony and lives where we do. I often get rides with her.)

So I silently cried through the rest of symphony. I played all the notes, but tears constantly blurred my vision. My heart was not there.

That night at home I openly cried for the rest of the evening. I cried well into the night. I struggled to sleep. I woke up and cried some more. I cried so much on Thursday that my eyes started to burn terribly and I could barely keep them open. I began to feel numb and like I had cried all the tears I could possibly cry.

I had a symphony concert Thursday night. I felt all "cried out" which I suppose was good. I was able to function for my concert. I was even able to smile and be sociable and say "I'm fine" when people inquired. That's what we're supposed to do, right?

Today I guess I've been mostly OK. Tears here and there when I ponder these events. When I remember again the last time I saw Christina and think about the fact that I SHOULD HAVE STAYED at the hospital on Wednesday. That part digs at me constantly. I should have been there with Rachel, Michelle, and Christina's husband and girls.

After she coded and the hospital staff stopped attempting resuscitation, they let the friends and family in to pay their final respects. As strange as it sounds, I deeply regret not being there for that. I wish I could have seen Christina one last time even if it was just the shell of Christina. But it would have been good for closure and to say goodbye in my little earthly way. I know it absolutely doesn't matter in the grand scheme, but I had not seen her since June and that is devastating to me.

Please continue to hold her family in your prayers. And donate to the fund or get others to! Please please please pass that link on to everyone you can. This family needs so much love and support right now. This is a small way in which we can show our love and support for them right now. I REALLY appreciate all you who have already donated and have passed it on. You can't know how much it has helped, but trust me- it has done a tremendous amount of good. Keep it up! It means the world to me and I can't thank you enough.

Please Help a Family in Need

A beloved friend died suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday. I was at the hospital up until about 30 minutes before she passed away and I cannot tell you how deeply I regret leaving when I did.

So many regrets right now. Life is short. Life is precious. Hug your friends. Tell them you love them. Take pictures of your friends when they are happy and having a good time together. I really wish I had.

Christina was a vibrant 35-yr-old homeschooling mom and leaves behind a precious husband and 5 beautiful daughters who all adored her.

First of all, please PRAY for this sweet family as they grieve the unspeakable loss of a wife and mother.

A few of us have gotten together and created a donation site for Christina's family. If you knew Christina and want to help, please do. If you didn't know Christina and want to help, please do! The same goes for sharing this. Please please post this on your blogs, your facebook pages, email it to your friends, and post it to any public places you can think of.

I'm hoping- though nothing could possibly be adequate for this family right now- that this will at least alleviate any immediate needs however big or small. Living expenses, medical expenses, funeral expenses. Right now I just want them to be able to love on each other, grieve together, and take all the time they need to figure out how to proceed from here. So please donate, pass on this link, spread the word - do anything and everything you can to help a family in tragedy.

ICAN

Our little ICAN chapter has thrived and grown by leaps and bounds. We still haven’t reached all the women that we can and should, but we are trying very hard and have made so much progress!

Several very exciting things have happened which I will get to soon, but first I have to talk about how amazing it is to be a part of these girls’ journeys to VBAC. To meet and see a girl from her first meeting to when she comes to a meeting after her VBAC is a huge transformation and I love it every step of the way! Most girls who come in seeking support after a disappointing birth come very defeated, emotional, possibly struggling with post partum depression. Some are utterly traumatized at how they were treated and cannot tell their stories without sobbing uncontrollably. We hand them tissues and just listen.

It’s so wonderful to see these girls come back again over and over until they are blessed with another pregnancy and then to choose the right provider for them, the right location for them, and continue to come to meetings to arm themselves with education and information and then come back one day with their VBAC baby in arms just radiant and triumphant!

Our little chapter has already had 7 VBACs just that I can think of off the top of my head. It could be closer to 10! It has been SUCH a blessing to be part of this process!

Just in the past few months a couple of very exciting things happened. 1) An OB attended one of our meetings. 2) Because of this meeting, this OB agreed to perform a “family centered cesarean” for one of our moms who needed a c-section. She showed him all the research backing it and he attended our meeting on the topic to gather more information and he made it happen right here in Chattanooga! It was Chattanooga’s very first family centered cesarean. The mom came back to our most recent meeting and told her story and it was remarkable and wonderful! This is a huge step for our little community and ICAN was a BIG part of that step! I could not be more thrilled!

In short, I feel like our little chapter could do a lot more, but I also feel that we’ve been able to help so many people and have accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. I’m always so excited and looking forward to our next meeting. I love it!

I know I know…

I haven’t blogged in forever and then the first thing I do is post a huge long boring epic that most people probably won’t care about. So sorry about that!

Lately all I know how to update on is the kids. What else is there!?

Well Henry consumes a lot of our time and energy because he’s a higher needs baby than we’ve had before. It gets better sometimes, and it gets worse sometimes, but right now I think we are the upswing.

He may have a slight intolerance of dairy which could actually explain a lot and I had thought of it before and had cut out dairy from my diet, but after seeking the opinion of someone more experienced with food sensitivities than I, it seems I did not cut it out for long enough to make a difference. But the intolerance can affect activity level (he is very active- always has been), sleep quality, absorption, and weight gain. So many of the issues we’ve had with Henry fit this perfectly. So off of dairy we go. I don’t mind it so much except for cheese and the occasional ice cream. But cheese, oh cheese- how I love thee!

Henry started solids about a month ago now and has done fairly well with it. He definitely loves to eat. He still nurses insatiably, typically every 2-3 hours. We keep thinking with all this nursing and eating that he will shoot up and out very soon! Maybe with removing dairy, his system will get itself worked out soon and he will. I hope so! He loves peas, avocado, eggs, pears, roast beef, pork chops, sweet potato…. yes- he has tried quite the variety of foods already. He demands to eat whenever we are eating so sometimes we have had to get creative! lol

His sleep has been so inconsistent! We’ll have a few really good nights and think that we are in the home stretch to recovering from the exhausted haze that we’ve been in for the past 9 months, and then he starts right back up again being up all night and…. uuuuuugh.

When he is happy, he is very very happy; but when he is sad? Look out!

We did achieve an amazing milestone this past Sunday. He stayed in the nursery for a whole hour. WITHOUT ME. First time ever! I took him to the nursery to play and nurse during the church service (which is our tradition when he starts to "talk” in church) and I noticed that he was much more interested in playing than he ever had been before. He was even letting go of ME and exploring his surroundings a little. I realized that I may very well be able to sneak out for Sunday School. So I seized the opportunity and got to (for the first time in as long as I can remember) sit through an entire Sunday School Class. And it was a really good one too – I think God planned that for me! I am so grateful! The nursery worker ended up having to hold him once he noticed I was gone (which only took a moment after I left according to her. Woops.), but he was still okay with her holding him. I’m so thankful she was willing to hold him that whole time!

He has been crawling since around 5-6 months old and pulling up since 7 months old and climbing up our stairs since 8 months old. Did I mention he’s super active? He follows me around no matter where I go. And he is, of course, still irresistibly adorable!

Speaking of which, I hear him now- just waking up from a nap! Gotta run…