Walking a Thousand Miles

Joe and I joined WeightWatchers at the first of the year.  The plan is amazing!  Joe says I am a walking commercial for the program.  I have enjoyed my new eating lifestyle, but I decided to step it up.  I joined the walk a thousand miles in the year challenge.  This is a big challenge.  I thought at first walking almost three miles a day wouldn't be to hard.  I am counting every step I take.  I count my steps from the bedroom to the laundry room, the steps I take to change the diapers every day, and the walks I take everyday.  The last days have created somewhat of a challenge.  The baby got the stomach bug which has created some set-backs in reaching that 1000 mile goal.  I have learned though life with a baby can create number of extra challenges.  But I have also learned that my baby will have me on the go and at my goal of 1000 miles by the time he starts walking.  His ability to move around already is limited, but keeps me moving.  It is good to keep this attitude and not get discouraged.  I also keep in mind that I am doing this all for!  I want not only to get in better shape, but I want my son to learn healthy eating habits and to be active!  

Mommy vs. Career

Remember the days on the playground when boys would be firefighters or policemen; girls would be nurses or teachers.  On the playground we were whoever we wanted to be.  Not many children played stockbroker or lawyer, but we all had our dreams. As we got into our teenage years we would make statements like when I grow-up I am going to be... Well, maybe I am still trying to live the dream I had on playground of being a mommy or maybe it is a full-time career.

Before I dive much deeper, let me start by applauding all women who work, take care of their children, and keep up with the house. I have a great respect for you women. However, this week I have learned I am not cut-out for doing it all.  Taking care of my son and the house is full-time enough for me.  I know eventually my son will be older and God willing I will have another baby to care for, but once all my children are in kindergarten (8+ years from now) I will need to go back to work full-time. I may sound like I am from the 50's, but I am content on being a housewife and mother.  I have no desire to pursue a master's degree or climb the corporate ladder.  I really enjoy being at home.  Don't get me wrong occasionally I fantasize working as a teacher or being a school nurse or planning major events for a big non-profit, but I am quickly brought back to reality when I hear Luke laugh or gurgle!  I am reminded that I am so content in what I am doing that I can't imagine a job any greater than the one I already have.

Maybe I have a fear of what conquering the work world.  At home I know my audience (my son).  I know how to persuade him to eat cereal, or I know how to handle his criticism aka squealing when he wants something.  I am comfortable!  So working mom's and stay-at-home moms is it okay to be comfortable or should you want more.  This leads to my next item are there Mommy's out there who can shed some light on part-time job options for a wannabe stay-at-home-mom with a Public Relations degree and two years experience in teaching preschool?  My experience in Public Relations is very limited, but I loved preschool.  I will probably go back to teaching one day, but I am not quiet ready to take Luke to preschool with me.  If anyone has any ideas they would be much appreciated by me and my husband (who totally supports me being a full-time mommy)!

I know one day I will have to become a working mom and it won't be as easy as the games on the playground, but until that day I am going to enjoy my job as mom!

Life in South Pittsburg

Well, we have officially moved to South Pittsburg, TN!  Joe took a job with his dad full-time and we decided it would be easier to commute from South Pittsburg to Nashville one day a week rather than commute five days a week to South Pittsburg from Nashville.  I've been super busy organizing our new home (which is shared with my in-laws for the time being).  Luke's room is set-up and our room is set-up!  Luke is actually sleeping in his room through the night!  We got real lucky so far because he goes to bed with no fuss and sleeps till about 7:00 in the morning.  Joe and I are also settling into our new room.  We are been so busy lately that we have been crashing in the evening.

Other great things about South Pittsburg are we joined weight watchers.  We are on day three of it and it is an amazing program.  It was very hard the first day, but we have learned how to eat food that is filling and smaller portions.  We also have started walking with some relatives and people in town for 30 minutes or so.  Our goal is to be healthy not lose tons of weight, but be healthy for us and for our son!

So all in all week one in South Pittsburg has been great and we are looking forward to the months to come!