Its the Victory in the Small Things



pregnant with asher, still had 3 months to go




pregnant with soren, 2 months to go

 I loved being pregnant. Getting to feel the bond of carrying a child, having those first kicks, hearing the heartbeat every month at the doctors office, and seeing my stomach contort like there was an alien in it was so much fun for me. I didn't even mind the labor very much (although I'm sure at that time with Asher I was completely wigging out.) In fact, if Steve would let me, I would have at least 2 more.

The thing I hated about being pregnant was what it did to my body after, the jiggly stomach, the stretch marks, and I think in general was just the way my body changed. As you can see in the pictures with Asher I was larger than huge and the 42 pounds extra on my body was nothing to brag about. I was also one of those women who didn't lose weight while breastfeeding (yay for me huh?) And so trying to lose all that extra weight was a huge challenge for me, one that I did not take lightly. So I dusted off my gym membership, started eating better, and worked my butt off. Just when I got to my almost pre-baby weight and felt semi-great about myself I found myself pregnant again.

Soren was a much easier pregnancy, and although I started out heavier than planned I only gained 30 pounds with him. I also worked out as much as I could during Asher's naps and tried to keep eating as healthy as possible only letting myself splurge some on the weekends. That being said my weight loss was just as hard, I lost most of it except those last 10 pounds. I knew I had to do something different again, so I gave up diet coke (my one love in the drink department), started my family on organic food (or as natural as possible in some cases), and gave up the fast food. That helped me lose another 5 pounds but grr why wasn't the weight dropping off.

So then if you have been keeping up I also gave up sugar, it was hard at first but now I look forward to my cheat days. I also started training for a 10k. I think this running has been so amazing to my body. I have so much more energy, I look forward to trying to eat as healthy as possible, and I have also started hating when I can't workout instead of thinking of it as the dreaded workout. And while I don't weigh myself all the time (its something I learned to do a long time ago, I absolutely hate scales), I do know that my body is changing again and this time for the best! I am finally able to get into my beloved Abercrombie jeans without that horrible muffin top and feeling like I am going to explode because I can't move my legs. So in just 3 weeks of training I have transformed my body again. I feel so great I did a happy dance in my jeans this morning! I have 7 more weeks of training and I can't wait to see what will happen next. Keep you guys updated!

Curious George

I just read the sweetest book to Asher tonight before bed. In fact I loved it so much I just had to write it on here for everyone else. Its called Curious You On Your Way!


(image from thisnext.com)

"Hip, Hip, Hooray! You've done great things.
 The whole world is proud of you today.
 You've learned so much. You studied hard.
 And put your brains to the test.
 You played on the team!
 Of course, the time comes when a curious monkey needs to break free!
 Even if it means you don't know exactly where you're going...
 or what will come next.
 So much to see! So much to try! What should you do?
 It's up to YOU.
 Just follow your dreams and you'll soar.
 You may feel a little frightened at times. But...hold on tight!
 You'll see sights that take your breath away!
 You'll find the spot where you most want to land.
 Oh, what a place it will be!
 The thrill of discovery will be yours.
 And if things don't work out quite as you had planned...don't worry!
 All great explorers bump and crash sometimes.
 There will always be new heights to reach.
 Whatever you do, you will find your own style.
 Even if it surprises a few!
 You'll give to others in ways that only you can.
 And you will make new friends.
 The world needs you now.
 You've got BIG ideas.
 The feats you imagine you'll just HAVE to try...and imagination can lead to
 invention.
 Before you know it, the SPOTLIGHT will be on YOU.
 What will your story be?
 Bold and inspiring- a tale of curiosity and brave exploration!
 Everyone will line up to see!
 And if the path that you choose gets rocky and rough-
 whenever you feel all alone-
 remember, we're with you all the way.
 Today, tomorrow...and every day!
 We're proud of curious YOU." by Kathleen W. Zoehfeld

I love what this book says. I want to not worry about where I am going, and what is going to come next. I want to follow my dreams even if I am frightened, because I can't wait to see what sights are going to take my breath away. How many times as adults have we forgotten to think big, to go for whatever even if we do crash and burn? I want my story to be inspiring and bold, full of curious and brave exploration! And lets not forget when our paths get rocky and tough that we are not alone, think of all the people in our lives standing behind us with whatever we want to do. So everyday lets all try and strive to be a little bit more curious, let our inner child out to see what new adventures we can get in to. I hope this inspired everyone as much as it did me. Tonight I can't wait to dream up my next adventure, goodnight everyone!

Hooray!!!

So two weeks ago I started my journey of trying to live without sugar. I will admit that I did cheat a few times and with no regret because of how well I have been doing without it. It was extremely tough for a while, but my cravings don't hit me as much and I have learned to do things in my life to try and curb those cravings. I think the best part of all of this is when I weighed myself today and I was down 6LBS!!! I'm pretty sure after I stepped off the scales I tried to high five myself I was so excited. That has totally made those days without candy and sweets worth it and while I am not going to go back to my old ways with sweets I also know that having something a little sweet every now and then isn't going to hurt.  

I have also set a goal of running the Cooper River Bridge 10k again this year, but actually training for it unlike last year. I had a blast running it and accomplished my goal of running the whole time. I found a training guide to follow which has kicked my butt this week, but has left me feeling great at the same time.

The guide is posted on my bedroom mirror to look at each day and remind myself of why I am doing this. I have also been marking off each day if I have done the training that I need to do. Lets just hope I can keep it up, my new time to beat is 1hr 17mins!!!

Sugar, Sugar....

I LOVE sugar. In fact that statement doesn't even touch how much I feel like I cannot live without it. Its like comparing it to a statement like "Living in a tropical paradise is ok." My love for the stuff should actually be called an addiction, its really that bad. I have no problem eating 2 snickers a day, or 8 chocolate chips cookies from Food Lion (they really make the best). I would never be one to turn down dessert, skip late night ice cream, or just eat icing out of the tub because I have no other form of that sweet good stuff.

My problem isn't even in buying the stuff, I rarely do. My problem is that it seems like everywhere I turn it is being offered. My parents stay stocked up on the junk. In fact we came over to stay at my parents in the big Winter Storm of '11 (don't laugh), I walked in the kitchen to see my mom unloading groceries. When I looked at what she was actually taking out of the bag it was about 10 containers of fudge, a large cheesecake, and peanut butter delight!!! I asked why did my father bring all of this home, her response "Well there is a big storm coming, I guess he doesn't want us to go hungry."  My mouth almost hit the floor.

And so five days ago I made a commitment to a good friend Salina Beasly that I would also give up refined sugar with her...well, that lasted for the rest of the day and took three more days before I actually could make good on a promise and give it up. I felt like I was saying goodbye to my best friend, how can I live without chocolate? And so the next few blogs will be about how hard this journey is, what I am learning, and hopefully the best stuff I will get to write about is how much better I feel and look without it. I don't know how long I will go cold turkey, but I know that I will never take it completely out of my life. I just need to get a better control of my love for it, so wish me luck!

Also I would like to appologize in advance for my mood for a while...I get really cranky when I'm off the stuff :)

Polly



One of my favorite family portraits

As most of you know my mother in law passed away a few days before Christmas. What you guys might not know is how amazing this woman truely was. I met Polly the night I was marrying her youngest son Steve. She greeted me that night with the largest hug and biggest smile you could imagine. I have no clue what thoughts were running through her head when she first saw me, but I knew that she loved me from the beginning. 

I know many mother in laws are very protective over their sons and can be very demanding when it comes to how their grandchildren should be raised, but I never had those problems with Polly. She actually told me quite often how happy she was that I came into Steve's life. She never once questioned how clean I kept my house, what type of food I feed my family, or how I discipline the boys, she just always smiled and had lots of hugs for everyone. She was so great to talk to at anytime, never judgemental or harsh, and had lots of great advice. 

One of her first presents for me was a cook book which I had no clue what to do with it since I didnt cook, but I think she had a 6th sense about me and knew one day I would love to and wouldn't be able to get enough books about food. At first I laughed when I got the book and asked Steve if she was trying to give me a hint that the woman should be at home cooking, he laughed too and said no, and she never made mention of it. When I thanked her for the book she just smiled and said she hoped I would enjoy it, no talk of when was I going to learn to cook thank God :)

Looking back all I can think about when I think of her is how much love poured out of her. I know she had every type of emotion a woman can have but love, happiness, and patience was all that I saw. She also loved her grandkids so much. Whenever we all got to go up and visit at the same time the only place you would find Asher and my nephew were in her lap, and sometimes they would even fight over who got to be there. She could bring giggles out of those kids I don't think I have ever heard anyone else do.

Asher and Cades favorite spot

I miss her very much even though I have known her for such a short time. I think about all the things that she will miss getting to see my kids do, how I won't get to cook for her and show her the cook book and all of my cooking magazines are getting great use out of them. I will also miss her smile and hugs, and just getting to talk to her. I also know that my hurt doesn't compare to my husbands. Whenever Steve has ever told me stories about his mom his eyes shine extra bright. I only hope that I can be the best mom to my kids like she was to hers. And so, I love you Grammy!!!! I hope you can see us from up there :) And try not to wear God out too much running circles around him.  

My New Years Resolution

So I know that I promised in my last blog that I would do better at updating this....and so far I havent. Sorry for those of you who take your time to even check this site out. So this year I decided instead of making a plan to lose 20 lbs this year (I'm only making it 10 ha) I am going to write more. More to come in a little bit, I have a little man to get to bed.

My Crazy House

So I know that I havent got to write on this thing for FOREVER!! Well I am back and I hope that it wont be so long before I get to write again. Things in the Witherup household are crazy!!!! Who knew that raising two boys would be this challenging. Both Asher and Soren have done things that have amazed and crazed (is that a word?) me. I still look at both of them everyday and cannot believe that I am a mom. I am so blessed to have the family that I do.

While I wont write everything we did since the last time I wrote I will say that we had an amazing Christmas (a white one too woo hoo!!!), celebrated three great years of being married, and a great New Years. Asher has now developed a fascination for the movie Cars and insists that it play at least twice a day even for background noise and wants everything Cars, he has also graduated to a big boy bed which makes me laugh because he now comes and gets me up in the mornings. And my little man Soren has learned to crawl, wants to be walking and eating big boy food (basically anything big brother is doing), and has two teeth. This year has flown by for me already with those two guys. Steve is still doing his masters and is about to start on his thesis which I know he will do amazing on even if I dont understand a word he is talking about when he describes it to me. I am still in school as well hoping to knock the rest of these classes out of the way so I can only have nursing classes. So I hope you guys have had a great year so far, more to come soon (and pictures) I promise!!!!