(TT): Fitness, Being a SAHM, Gardening, Thankful for Life.

Every day there is so much to be thankful, I could blog daily about all of the blessings in my life. 

I have many hardships too, but I choose not to let those steal my focus from the good things in life. 

I am so thankful that I was able to wake up at 5 am today to go to the gym. I did not feel well (fibromyalgia) yet I went anyway, and I couldn't be happier that I did. I still do not feel well, but I feel better than I did before. Just getting into the gym and lifting weights was a huge accomplishment. I also upped my weights on most of my exercises this week.

pic from last week, didn't take a pic today.

I am pleased that the pollen count in our area is lower over the next couple of days. I have been wanting to open my window :) It feels so nice to have fresh air coming in the windows without my allergies flaring.

I have been getting a lot done around the house lately. Sorting and getting rid of things that no longer serve our family's lifestyle. It is freeing to get rid of things. The happier I am with my life and myself, the less I need things in my life to make me happy.

I am thankful for our new shoe organizer that is keeping our shoes all neat and tidy. It was getting out of hand in the entry way.

I am thankful for Baby A, she has been saying new things daily and some of her new phrases and mannerisms are the cutest ever. How about this? She is only 17 months old and knows how to sit in time out. We don't yell or spank in our house and use the word "no" sparingly. We use time outs for temper tantrums and other outburst ( like if she throws things, etc). It is really working. She is only a baby though so its a 1 min. time out, followed by a hug, but she understands and corrects her behavior very well for being so young.

We finished our garden this week as well. We only had a couple of seeds left to plant. I am so grateful for our balcony so we can at least grow a potted garden. It is wonderful to see the sproutlings coming up already from the plants we planted previously! Baby A even helped plant seeds and had a blast.

our garden & Baby A's chalk artwork ;) 

the hot peppers that were in Baby A's window from Feb.
they weren't flourishing in window, so planted. left planter plastic on to
not damage plants.

I love that I get to stay home with my daughter. Contrary to how people make it sound, it is not easy to be a stay at home mom. I hear excuses from people all of the time saying " I don't get to sit at home all day, so I can't cook or clean....blahblahblah". Honestly, I hardly EVER just get to sit. My work day does not end. I have been blessed with a Hubby who helps out in the evenings....thankfully! :) Even though I have help in the evenings I still have to make dinner and get things ready at night. I am not someone who "sits and eats bonbons".  I run the sweeper daily, do 4 loads of laundry a day ( babies are messy), clean up the messes Baby A makes, clean and sweep the kitchen all day long, cook all day long ( we make almost every single thing from scratch that we eat), I hang clothes and make beds...etc. There is a ton of things I do daily. This is a mini rant. However, I am blessed to get to stay home to be the person to raise my daughter. I am happy that a day care is not raising her or a grandparent or a neighbor....I am the person home with her. My Hubby and I are raising her...and it shows. She is so happy. Just yesterday a lady in the grocery store said that Baby A is the happiest baby she has ever seen!

I am grateful for every aspect of my life and would not change a thing.

Life is beautiful.

What are you thankful for?

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Ask Me Monday! : Stay at home mom?

"What made you want to be a stay at home mom?"

Honestly, when I was a child my mom was a stay at home mom, and for a short time my dad was a stay at home dad while he went to school for his second career. 

I really feel like I benefitted from this as a child. I remember wanting to be there for my child (ren) the way they were for me when I was little. 

There was a short time when I was a child that neither parent stayed at home and I remembered hating having some one else watch me. 

I feel that parents are the best teachers for their children. I also believe that we can be a great safety net while they are young.

I want my daughter to grow up feeling secure and confident. I feel that by me staying home with her, I can help with these things.

I teach her a lot during the day, and we get a lot of quality time together because of this. She is a very happy child, I credit a lot of this due to my husband's and my parenting style. Attachment parenting has really helped her to flourish. There are times when she is clingy, but she is also only 13 months old. 

I think that every parent should do what is best for their family whether it is staying at home or working. Each family knows what is best for them.

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli