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!

A Baby's 1st Christmas

Well, the Woodfins hope your family had as great of a Christmas as did ours!  Christmas started on Thursday for us.  All seven of us (Papa, Nana, Logan, Amber, Daddy, Mommy, and Luke) piled in my in-laws mini van that we borrowed and went to Paducah!  First of six grown adults aren't meant to ride in a mini van for 2 1/2 hours, but we had a great time.  Amber and I sang Christmas songs to the family, and everyone enjoyed laughing at our made-up words for the songs!  Anyway our first stop was at great grandpa and grandma's house!  They really enjoyed seeing Luke.  Great grandma also pulled out old pictures we got a kick at looking at all the old photos.  Our second stop was Friday at great Aunt Diane's house.  There we saw all the cousins, second cousins, aunts, and uncles.  It was a great day!  The adults even had fun.  We played dirty santa!  It was a lot of fun.  Friday afternoon we all piled back in the van to return  back to Belleville.  The trip went well for the most part we did hit some bad weather around Marion.  It was beautiful snow, but not fun to drive in.  Once back in town we went to Amber's house for Christmas Eve dinner.  It was such good food!  I want the recipe for the Mac N' Cheese.  After dinner we joined Amber's family at the Methodist church for a Christmas Eve service.  It was beautiful music.  We returned to her parents house for dessert.  Joe, Luke, and I ventured out at 10:30 for Christmas Eve services at the Episcopal church in Belleville.  The service was beautiful!  Once we returned Luke was to excited to go to sleep last night.  He didn't go to bed until 2:00 in the morning.  So we got a late start to opening Christmas this morning.  We had a great breakfast and good times with the family.  I hope all your families have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year Enjoy our photos!


Love,

Carly, Joe, and Luke

The Holidays

  Well, we made it to December!  Joe, Logan, Aubrey, and Amber moved all our belonging to South Pittsburg, TN on Friday.  Luke and I retreated to my parents house, in Belleville, during this time.  After everything was moved and put in storage Joe, Logan, and Amber came to Belleville to spend the holidays with us.  We will be here until December 29th!  I think nana and papa are loving the time that we are here. They even volunteered to babysit while Joe, Logan, Amber, and I go to St. Louis for a date night!  Yesterday nana and papa watched Luke while we went Christmas shopping!  Being first time parents we may have gone a little overboard for Luke's 1st Christmas, but it was worth it.  Luke is also loving nana and papa's house!  He had so much fun playing with Uncle Logan and Amber yesterday.  Even the dog is giving him attention.  Aslan isn't crazy about the baby, but he sniffs him every once in a while.  Luke starts to giggle every time the dog barks. So all in all are time here has been great!  We are looking forward to the days ahead as we see more family!  We are wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas! 

Our World As of Late

So life the past three months has been a little different!  Here in order has been the events to occur in our lives:

1. Our son Luke was born, Sept. 5!  The same day has his dad's birthday and the best day of our lives!  It all happened on September 4th.  I had planned a surprise get together for Joe's birthday.  It was just our parents and his brother.  We sat at lunch celebrating Joe's birthday and wishing we were celebrating Luke's.  Everyone hung around most of the afternoon hoping Luke would make an appearance, but nothing happened.  Later that night I thought I might be having back contractions so Joe tried to time them. I got tired and gave up at 1:15 in the morning.  At 1:50 my water broke.  I woke up Joe who just fell asleep.  We each took a shower then drove to the hospital!  20 hours later Luke was born at 9.2 lbs and 21 inches long.  Life with him has been so wonderful!  He is so sweet.

2.  We decided to move back to South Pittsburg, TN! Joe is going to work for his dad full-time.

3. I had emergency surgery.  I had some complication after Luke was born that were not addressed by my doctors.  I went to get a second opinion and ended up getting surgery.  I was put on bed rest through Thanksgiving.

4. Now we are packing up and moving Thursday!  We will be going to my parents for the holidays, but returning to our new home in South Pittsburg, TN.  Don't worry we will be in Nashville at least once a week!

Hoping everyone has a great Christmas and New Year.