Monday, January 28, 2013

I Love Dessert!!!!

As January comes to a close, the biggest accomplishment is that Elliott is fully potty trained. He took to it so fast and easily! It's nice not to have to buy disposable diapers anymore between Elliott potty trained and Matthew in cloth diapers.

Matthew is getting better about naptimes and sleeping through the night. But even though I did the same exact thing with him as I did with Elliott (who was sleeping through the night at 2 months), he's still getting up once or twice a night and his naptimes are way shorter than Elliott's were. He has quite a temper already too. He's not a fan of being by himself at all and when he's angry or bored, he does this screaming/shrieking thing. It's a lot harder to make him cry when his cry is an angry, high pitched, eardrum bursting shriek. Good thing he's cute. ;)



Today I finished phase 1 of P90X. It's hard getting up early to do an hour workout six days a week, but it's been hanging over me that I keep starting this program and never stick to it longer than halfway. So I'm in it to actually finish it this time. Two more phases left.

While I've been getting good weight loss results, I attribute it more to my nutrition than exercise.



I'm been doing the Whole30 program. I would have been done in two days, but for those of you that know me, you know that sweets and desserts are my vice! I've had the restart the program three times time this month for giving into dessert. :/ But once I make it through these 30 days eating the Whole9 way, I know my sweet tooth will be under control. I'm just working on having the willpower to get there! I feel great on it though (besides the sweet tooth cravings). Dropping inches in my waist faster than I ever had in my life...until I give in to that dessert... my skin is clearer and I have plenty of energy (and for waking up a couple times every night, nursing, and keeping up with Elliott's 120mph activity all day, that's a big deal!). 

I also came to the realization that I've been giving Elliott the same breakfast, every morning, for months now. Just scrambled eggs. Time to mix things up. I wrote up a breakfast meal plan where he's having something different every morning now. Zach likes the variety too. Friday is breakfast muffin day. (Zach and Elliott's aren't doing the Whole30). I thought I'd share some yummy muffins we tried last week.


Banana Oatmeal Muffins

2 1/2 cup rolled oats
8 oz full fat yogurt 
2 eggs
3/4 cup honey
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 bananas

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray tin with non-stick cooking spray or rub with coconut oil. Put everything into a blender and blend until smooth. Bake 20-25 minutes. 


Another dessert I just had to share is some delicious, easy fudge that my sister, Rachel, and I made for Christmas. Well, obviously, we are in different states, but we made them the same time while talking together. ;)

Peppermint Fudge
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup raw honey
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Hershey's dark cocoa powder
2 tbsp almond butter
Peppermint extract
Crushed candy canes

-Whisk coconut oil and honey together. Slowly add in the cocoa powder. Whisk in the almond butter and a few drops of peppermint extract (depending on how strong you like it). Pour into a loaf pan that is line with non stick foil or wax paper. Sprinkle the candy canes on top and freeze for 15 minutes. Cut into squares and store in the refridgerator until ready to eat. Just try not to eat the whole thing. ^_^

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Happy 2013

I promise I'm going to be better about blogging. It's a new year's resolution to do at least one post every other week. It doesn't sound like very much, but it's more than I've been doing. Besides, 2012's goal of doing a blog post every week was unrealistic for me.

Christmas was good this year, but different. Elliott had a fever, throwing up, sore throat...the whole nine yards. It was a relaxing family/movie/napping day.

Elliott's feverish, flushed face on Christmas morning:

Opening stocking stuffers Christmas Eve:

Matthew at 3 1/2 months on Christmas day:

On New Years Eve, Zach started coming down with what Elliott had. But he was able to push through it and we went out with some friends, Wayne and Tiffany, to De La Vega's for a New Years party. It was so much fun and we'll definitely go again next year. The best part was getting a night out with my husband though. It had been too long! 

But then 2013 kinda went downhill from there. Elliott got flu #2, Zach kept getting worse, Matthew got the whole cough, flu, cold AND ear infection and I have been battling it on and off. Just when I start to get it, I'll load up on vitamins and my homeopathic things and fight it off for the next couple days. Then it'll start coming back and I'll do it all again. 


I hope we're finally all getting over it though. Hopefully that'll get all our sicknesses out for the rest of the year. ;) 

I've decided it's pretty much impossible to get a good picture of these two together. But Elliott just adores Matthew and is always asking to hold him. Or wanting to help give him a bottle or pacifier. Or handing him a toy. Or reading him books. Matthew smiles at Elliott every time and I just can't wait until they can play together.