As we left my in-laws at the airport, and my mother-in-law started to cry because her first baby was flying home, I told her something I didn't think I would. At least not yet.
I told her that we'd be working on her Christmas gift for next year.
That gift being her first grandchild.
Whoa.
Maybe it was all the emotions in the air, the look of seeing her tear up and my husband tear up, I just couldn't help myself. But after I said it, I couldn't help but feel excited and hopeful for the future. And all that it holds.
I hope I can keep my promise.
Goals for 2013
It's almost the end of the year. If you're one of those people who sitting on pins and needles for the end of days tomorrow, good luck. I'm not holding my breath.
Just 5 days until Christmas.
This time of the year, I always find myself thinking about next year. And EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. I always say that "this year is going to be different".
Just 5 days until Christmas.
This time of the year, I always find myself thinking about next year. And EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. I always say that "this year is going to be different".
- I'm going to lose weight
- I'm going to get organized
- I'm going to eat more vegetables
- I'm going to be successful
And then, by the middle of the year, I've lost steam in my goals that I set in January and find myself slowly slipping back into bad habits and giving up on those goals. It's awful
This year I did lose 20lbs! But then, by September, I lost steam and have gained a little bit of the weight back. And now that we're in holiday mode, I've put off all exercise and healthy eating until the new year.
With planning to have a baby in 2013/2014, I need to get really serious about my health. My OBGYN said that if I lost about 20lbs, it would help with what she suspects could be PCOS - polycystic ovarian syndrome. While I haven't been formally diagnosed yet (we'll test at my next annual exam), I've read all the symptoms and my OB says I fit the description.
PCOS totally stinks too because it isn't curable, it's merely manageable. It includes symptoms such as trouble losing weight, excess hair, acne, irregular periods, and fertility problems - awesome, right?!
Thankfully, some of the symptoms can be reversed/reduced through diet and exercise, and sadly, by limiting carbs. Sugar is evil and yet so delicious!
Anyway, all that to say that I've been seriously thinking about my goals for 2013. And I think that what happens to me is that I get all excited about setting goals, but I don't really make them that specific or measurable. Instead, they are big, vague, and overwhelming. So this year, I'm laying them out here. Sharing them on this little blog, and hopefully giving me some accountability for making things happen personally.
My 2013 Goals
I'm sure that I will continue to add things to this list for 2013, but I just wanted to get things started before 2013 is actually here! I'm also thinking about starting a a 101 in 1001 list - starting January 1, 2013 and ending September 28, 2015. We'll see.
Health
- I want to lose 20lbs in 2013 and keep it off.
- I want to track progress - eating and working out.
- I want to get pregnant in 2013.
Life
- I want to celebrate our 30th birthdays with my husband with a party surrounded by good friends.
- We want to host at least 3 parties at our home.
- I want to go out to dinner with friends at least once every other month.
Travel
- I want to go to France with my husband. (Possible baby-moon.)
- We want to go on at least 2 vacations.
- We want to not travel during the holidays in 2013.
Organization
- I want to start meal planning on a weekly basis so that I cook at least 3 days a week.
- I want to get organized - better filing, less clutter with paperwork.
- I want to finish painting my office and make it a truly functional space.
- I want to create a "chores" list of sorts so that regular cleaning occurs each week.
What are some of your goals for next year?
PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
I was trying to figure out if I want to even talk about this on the blog, but I figure that it's part of my journey and if it helps just one person with their journey, then that'll be a great thing.
I went to my new OBGYN back in April for my annual women's exam. You know the one. With paper gowns and stirrups. Fun times. My mom had suggested that I ask the doctor about PCOS - polycystic ovarian syndrome - maybe I had it? I had some of the symptoms - acne (I thought acne went away by the time you're in your late 20's), trouble losing weight (I mean, who doesn't have that problem, right?), excess facial hair (I had to admit to this, but it's downright awful), thinning scalp hair (my hair used to be fairly thick), irregular periods, and infertility.
Since up until recently, we didn't have to worry about infertility since we weren't talking about having kids yet. But now, now that we really are talking about starting a family, this has become an issue.
I also have to say that I haven't been formally diagnosed. That would involve an ultrasound to check for cysts. It's sounds awesome and wonderful, right? Not really. Unfortunately, it's not a condition that has a cure. Thankfully, it's a condition that can be managed and the symptoms lessened, mainly through diet and exercise. Most notably for the diet - reduction in carbs!
It stinks that I love carbs so much.
But if carbs are what are standing in between us having a baby, then I will gladly give up that extra sugar.
Part of my plan, come January is to start up eating Paleo style again, at least at a 80/20 ratio. I know that the hard core Paleo/Primal gurus will say that it is a lifestyle, but if I'm being totally honest with myself, I know that I'll be able to do much better if I give myself the 80/20 ratio.
I'm slowly learning to eat more vegetables (I wish I loved them) and I'm excited about being able to eat plenty of protein (I love meat!) I have to admit that I will miss my carbs, between cakes and candy and bread, the idea of saying goodbye sucks. But it'll be worth it.
I'm going to follow an eating plan that is somewhere between a Paleo and 4 Hour Body diet, giving myself that one day a week to go nuts on the all the bad stuff. I hear from friends who have done it say that after a few weeks, you don't even miss or crave the bad stuff anymore.
Anybody else out there managing PCOS? I would love to hear your advice!
I went to my new OBGYN back in April for my annual women's exam. You know the one. With paper gowns and stirrups. Fun times. My mom had suggested that I ask the doctor about PCOS - polycystic ovarian syndrome - maybe I had it? I had some of the symptoms - acne (I thought acne went away by the time you're in your late 20's), trouble losing weight (I mean, who doesn't have that problem, right?), excess facial hair (I had to admit to this, but it's downright awful), thinning scalp hair (my hair used to be fairly thick), irregular periods, and infertility.
Since up until recently, we didn't have to worry about infertility since we weren't talking about having kids yet. But now, now that we really are talking about starting a family, this has become an issue.
I also have to say that I haven't been formally diagnosed. That would involve an ultrasound to check for cysts. It's sounds awesome and wonderful, right? Not really. Unfortunately, it's not a condition that has a cure. Thankfully, it's a condition that can be managed and the symptoms lessened, mainly through diet and exercise. Most notably for the diet - reduction in carbs!
It stinks that I love carbs so much.
But if carbs are what are standing in between us having a baby, then I will gladly give up that extra sugar.
Part of my plan, come January is to start up eating Paleo style again, at least at a 80/20 ratio. I know that the hard core Paleo/Primal gurus will say that it is a lifestyle, but if I'm being totally honest with myself, I know that I'll be able to do much better if I give myself the 80/20 ratio.
I'm slowly learning to eat more vegetables (I wish I loved them) and I'm excited about being able to eat plenty of protein (I love meat!) I have to admit that I will miss my carbs, between cakes and candy and bread, the idea of saying goodbye sucks. But it'll be worth it.
I'm going to follow an eating plan that is somewhere between a Paleo and 4 Hour Body diet, giving myself that one day a week to go nuts on the all the bad stuff. I hear from friends who have done it say that after a few weeks, you don't even miss or crave the bad stuff anymore.
Anybody else out there managing PCOS? I would love to hear your advice!
It's starting to get real.
A couple weeks ago, I was talking to my friend about how we're starting to talk about starting a family. She asked me when we were thinking about starting and I said, "About the new year."
Then she asked me if I was taking prenatal vitamins.
Uh. Not yet.
She told me that I should start taking them at least three months before.
"What?! You mean, I'm already behind?!"
When I thought about the fact that we'd stop preventing pregnancy at the new year, which is now in just a few short weeks, it got real. It got real, really fast.
Then I started to Google things and WebMD things, because obviously, I don't know much about this stuff! And my friend was right, I should start taking prenatal vitamins!
So we went to pick up a bottle.
And again, things got real. Whoa. We're really going to do this.
Planner at Heart
While I don't think that I would ever make a good event planner, I'm definitely a planner when it comes to my life. Maybe it's the Type-A tendency that I have. While most of the time I'm pretty Type-B (is it even called that?), there are times when my Type-A-ness surfaces.
Like planning out my life.
Like planning our wedding.
Like planning our budget.
Like planning out my business year.
I do plan for those things.
And now that a baby is potentially on the horizon (at least we hope so! no bun in oven yet), it's yet another thing to plan for. I know that I've been told by countless people who have had kids and whose kids are now in college that if you wait to be "ready" for a kid, you'll never be ready.
I know this rings true when it comes to finances. I know that babies cost money. They need lots of stuff. (Whoa, how intellectual am I?!) But it's true, right? Right now, we're doing well. I wonder what it will be like once we throw a kid into the mix.
I mean, come on, I was hesitant to GET A DOG.
Although, now, I couldn't imagine our lives without him.
But a BABY? Not nearly as self-sufficient as a dog.
Though, I'm guessing I'll be in love the moment we hear that little heartbeat (someday).
I want to plan so badly, be able to estimate when we'll have a kid, and do some financial forecasting. (nerd alert, right?) But I know that I can't. I just have to roll with the punches.
This has probably been why we've been controlling the whole "getting pregnant" thing. But in a few months (oh crap like in 10 weeks or so...that's SO SOON), the control thing will be over.
My Type-A-ness will start to cry.
Well, not really.
But I'm sure that I'll be two parts excited, two parts terrified, and a dash of awe.
I'm excited. And scared. But more excited.
xoxo
Like planning out my life.
Like planning our wedding.
Like planning our budget.
Like planning out my business year.
I do plan for those things.
And now that a baby is potentially on the horizon (at least we hope so! no bun in oven yet), it's yet another thing to plan for. I know that I've been told by countless people who have had kids and whose kids are now in college that if you wait to be "ready" for a kid, you'll never be ready.
I know this rings true when it comes to finances. I know that babies cost money. They need lots of stuff. (Whoa, how intellectual am I?!) But it's true, right? Right now, we're doing well. I wonder what it will be like once we throw a kid into the mix.
I mean, come on, I was hesitant to GET A DOG.
Although, now, I couldn't imagine our lives without him.
But a BABY? Not nearly as self-sufficient as a dog.
Though, I'm guessing I'll be in love the moment we hear that little heartbeat (someday).
I want to plan so badly, be able to estimate when we'll have a kid, and do some financial forecasting. (nerd alert, right?) But I know that I can't. I just have to roll with the punches.
This has probably been why we've been controlling the whole "getting pregnant" thing. But in a few months (oh crap like in 10 weeks or so...that's SO SOON), the control thing will be over.
My Type-A-ness will start to cry.
Well, not really.
But I'm sure that I'll be two parts excited, two parts terrified, and a dash of awe.
I'm excited. And scared. But more excited.
xoxo
Little Wood Project
It was actually my husband's idea.
He was the one who said "LWP" a few months ago. I had looked at him in confusion, wondering what he meant.
We've been talking about starting a family and the time is quickly approaching. And he said something about LWP--Little Wood Project--and it just made me smile. I think on the inside at the time, which, little did he know, gave name to this blog.
We're not pregnant and we're not yet trying, but we will be. Sorry, if that's TMI.
I always think it's funny when couples say that they are "trying" to have a baby. Simply because of what it implies. Maybe it's just my humor of a thirteen year old boy. What can I say, serious life decisions make me a little nervous.
Okay, a lot nervous.
But I'm super excited to document our journey. I have no idea where it will take us or how long it will take us. I'm hoping that we don't have any serious complications and that we can roll with what we are given.
I guess that makes us real adults now. We got married. We bought a house. We adopted a dog. Now just add a kid. Or two.
Here we go!
He was the one who said "LWP" a few months ago. I had looked at him in confusion, wondering what he meant.
We've been talking about starting a family and the time is quickly approaching. And he said something about LWP--Little Wood Project--and it just made me smile. I think on the inside at the time, which, little did he know, gave name to this blog.
We're not pregnant and we're not yet trying, but we will be. Sorry, if that's TMI.
I always think it's funny when couples say that they are "trying" to have a baby. Simply because of what it implies. Maybe it's just my humor of a thirteen year old boy. What can I say, serious life decisions make me a little nervous.
Okay, a lot nervous.
But I'm super excited to document our journey. I have no idea where it will take us or how long it will take us. I'm hoping that we don't have any serious complications and that we can roll with what we are given.
I guess that makes us real adults now. We got married. We bought a house. We adopted a dog. Now just add a kid. Or two.
Here we go!
