Looking Back..

In the past year my body has done some amazing things. Namely carrying a life, birthing that sweet baby girl, and then recovering from gaining 50 pounds (yes, I said 5-0!) and getting healthy after toxemia (pregnancy induced high blood pressure...not fun).
I've also supported a life by producing milk (crazy that is what those things are for!)And yes, I am still breastfeeding. Sometimes I love it, other times I want to have a break. I am beginning the weaning process, but its a little work. Especially with this girl...chichi mama is her nickname.

I think the hardest thing about motherhood is that it is so completely non-self centered. You literally could and in some ways have to lose yourself. I am not talking about using your baby as an excuse to let go. Sadly I think that happens a lot, and who could blame someone. Motherhood is EXHAUSTING (she says after night 2 of sleep training with a toddler who wakes up every 2 hours at least...). But if you lose yourself in the midst of that, I feel like you could start to resent your position and your children.

So I decided to post something. Its hard for me to post this because its pretty vulnerable. Especially for me: with all of the weight issues I have had in my past (another post, another day). I never want to like myself for my body, but I also don't want to let myself go for the sake of not finding my identity in my shape. But, my body has been to the brink and thankfully, with a lot of work and a lot of encouragement, back to where I feel like I am taking good care of myself.

So here is a progression of the last year....

1 week after ashby born.

2 months after...starting to exercise again..

5.5 month Ashby walking at Cannon Beach with my mom (isn't she cute from behind!)

October..walking the dog on a more regular basis (wearing a 19 pound baby on a regular basis is helpful too)

new years, after a really well-rounded 1800 calories a day cleanse (no starvation for a nursing mommy)

Hawaii, just about 1 year after she was born.

total weight lost: 70 pounds.

Tricks: none.

1. Hardwork and getting outside at least 4 days a week

2. Cutting out sugar and processed foods (with a few exceptions)

3. not giving up and learning when I use food for comfort not for fuel.

So here I am. What a difference a year makes.

To my readers...

OK. So i am horrible with blogging lately. I think the biggest reason is that SOOO much happens every week, day, minute etc and I never feel caught up. So when I go to blog I don't know where to start and that ruins it for me. Also, I don't know what to put on here.

So my question is this:

Since I am doing this for you mostly, what do you want to see? What do you want to read about?

I would love your comments and thoughts. (all 5 of you...I think)

Then I am going to set a 2 days a week blogging schedule and just get to it.

Love love love to you.

Lizzy
PS I hear ceramic things hitting the floor in my living room....yikes! Time to run!

Maui

Ashby turned 1 yesterday! But before that we had an amazing vacation in Hawaii. We really needed the time to reconnect as a family. And we discovered that Ashby loves all things related to water. She spent most of her time exclaiming "Wow" with her arm straight out, palm pointed upward, pointing at whatever amazed her. Here are a few shots of our time.

We had a fabulous time. I wish I was still there only because I had nothing I had to do. Except read and tan and eat and walk and hang out with my babies! Next year we are definitely bringing grandma and grnadpa so we can sneak away a few times!

See you in 10..

10 days that is.. I am writing this post from Phil and Larissa's house in beautiful MAUI.

Never in our life together have we ever decided to just go on a vacation on a Monday and leave on a Friday. Well, we've done that for camping and such, but not to a tropical and faraway place.

On the agenda for the next week:
Pa'ia Fish market
The North Shore
The road to Hana
Loco Moco
Sun
Sea Turtles
Emry Thrash
the occasional elixir
Lots and lots of family snuggle and laughing time.

See you when we return...tan and relaxed :)

what a season

Am I sad its over? Yes.

Would it have been great if we could have kept going? Absolutely (especially in the financial department)

Do I think this is the end of the world? No way.

This is this profession. You lose. You win. You move on. Dave is certainly not defined by the wins and losses. I love to win, and I get wrapped up in it because it effects our lives. But wins and losses in no way determine our future and where God wants to take us.

We had church this morning at our house before the game. Top Pot doughnuts, coffee, and church. The verse for today was Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will."

The world would tell us that we didn't do good enough and to be sad. But we know that is not true. We know that God is doing something amazing in our lives and that He is taking care of us. And he knows the plans that he has for our future.

Would have loved today's bonus, but more than that I am so thankful that God has literally seen us through every month here and made it certain that we could pay every bill we have on time. Even though our paycheck doesn't even cover it.

And we make sure (it is still SO HARD!!) that we tithe every time we get paid. God is so incredibly faithful and we are working hard to be faithful in response.

Dave in the News

Well, we are still rolling.

But this is really cool. I woke up to phone calls about a news article about Dave in the Daily Breeze down in LA. I'll put the link up here.

God is so awesome and such a cool perspective of the last year.

http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/ci_17072635

Another week!!

Just 2 years ago, we were just finishing up a season with El Camino College. Loving every minute. Waiting for Our next adventure.

2 years later....NFC West Champions. And an NFL playoff birth.

What will God do with you when you step out in Faith?

Because there is no way to explain it other than this is what God wants.