I didn't mean to take this big of a break from blogging, life just got away from me. First the holidays then Eli got RSV and was sick for over a week, and then I was playing catch up on my house. He takes two predictable naps a day so I can't say I haven't had time, but life has just seemed so full and busy lately.
As I mentioned before I am taking a photography class this month. It's over in a few days but I feel like I have learned so so much. I am kinda bummed I went the whole first year of Eli's life not knowing how to shoot on manual but oh well, I know now and I can capture the beauty in the mundane.
This last week as Eli was catching up on sleep from being so sick with RSV I painted our entire downstairs. I will have to take some pictures to show you girls, it is so so much brighter! Eli was sleeping 12 hours straight at night and also taking 5-6 hours worth of naps. I listened to so many podcasts and painted so many walls. My house feels fresh and new and it was worth every minute of my time and every ounce of soreness in my back and shoulders.
I have been doing a sugar challenge with a friend for probably about 4 months now if not more. We have been documenting our days on My fitness pal and we can each see what the other has eaten and we report our sugar intake at the end of the day. I haven't been recording this month, but I still have a feel for about what I am eating after months of recording. My mom started recording sugar intake as well. We have both lost a few pounds (unintentionally) just from decreasing sugar intake. We never at much sugar but decreasing it has made everything taste more sweet! I used to just eat a dessert because it was sitting out, now I am particular and often turn away dessert if it doesn't sound good or if I am just not hungry. This article only confirmed what I have noticed. I now weigh what I did as a sophomore or junior in hs and this is a year post baby! Oh and in addition to decreasing sugar I have increased fat. I am now using 2% milk, full fat cottage cheese, and still making my own full fat greek yogurt. I put tons of the whey that comes off my yogurt in daily green smoothies. Ok, enough about food, I am just loving how such a simple change made such an amazing difference! Oh and I really only care about added sugars which shouldn't exceed 24 grams a day. Natural sugars that come in fruit also have a lot of fiber so I don't care about those!
I got a new lens for my camera that allows me to have a much higher aperture. I am loving shooting on f2.8 and getting the nice bokeh in the background. I had Eli playing on the dining room table for this shot so I could get adequate light. I didn't know I had such poor light in my house till I tried to start shooting manual all the time!
We went to Seattle and out to Italian for my brother birthday. Even though we ate at 4pm we didn't get home till nearly an hour after Eli's bedtime. We changed him into pajamas when we stopped at Daniels house after dinner to do presents. I love this capture of the two of them. My brother is still awkward holding babies and kids and Eli was squirming alllll over the place.
Eli has learned how to pull out drawers to step on them and reach higher. He makes this oooooh sound when he gets excited about something. You can see his pursed lips making the sound here. :) He was reaching for the lunch I had just heated up while standing on the towel drawer. I had forgotten to close it all the way (there are not handles on the drawers so he can't open them alone anymore) and he was excited about his new "stool" so that he could reach higher in the kitchen.
Eli helping daddy wash his car. I have no idea how we got so lucky to be in short sleeves and washing cars on a mid January day. 62 degree weather is crazy, but I am not complaining one bit!
More car washing and manual camera practice. I am finding it hard to shoot outside with the constantly shifting lighting but I am loving the challenge and seeing how even in a weeks time my photography has improved. This photography course was the best Christmas present ever.
I hope all is well with everyone. I did get to catch up with Amber at the gym yesterday. I hadn't seen her in a few weeks and we ended up sitting in the hot tub talking and I didn't work out at all! I couldn't go after we talked because the daycare closes at noon. Today I will go though (if I can get two babies there since we have a friends baby all day).
sad I wrote a comment already and it deleted it. I love seeing your pics! It looks like you learned a lot from the class, and shooting in manual just gets easier the more you play with it and learn how to get the look you like. I love that one of Eli washing the car - so classic looking. I also LOVE my wide aperture lens! I bought my f/1.8 for births, but it has become my go-to lens now.
ReplyDeleteThat's great about the sugar recording - way to go! I have not been anywhere near that diligent, but I stopped adding sugar to most t hings I make at home and I find the same thing is true with sweets for me. Its cool you could do it with a friend, that must make it easier.
I'm glad holiday/sick crazies are over and I bet your house looks amazing with the new paint!
ugh my comment just got deleted too! It did that for one of Becca'a Posta too.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say it's so good to be reading the blog again, life got on the way again and I've realized I miss you ladies!
That's so great about the sugar Angela! My sister did something similar and lost weight too. She inspired me to cut out most sugar and I've been doing pretty good, but could cut out more. Why increase fat? I've heard of other people doing that but don't really know why.
I lI've your photos of Eli! He's been adorable and photogenic since the day he was born.
I would love to see your paint job, it must look great!
I can't believe I forgot to take pictures of all my painting work, I am going to try and do it today!
DeleteIncreased healthy fats are good because they help you feel full. If you are eating mostly a plant based diet (as we usually do), or even with any diet, you need something else to fill you up and help prevent you from eating high sugar,high salt foods, and overly processed foods. Dairy fat is an awesome way to get good fats.
My next goal is to try and switch to more whole grains. We do good with bread but we love white rice and white pasta. I don't know if I will ever switch to wheat pasta as I hate the texture, but at least we have been eating it a lot less.
Also, comments getting deleted are my biggest pet peeve! When I remember I copy it before hitting post, and of course every time I remember it post's perfectly. When I forget is when the comment deletes!