Colour me Spring

Just a few things from my last couple of weeks.....

I love spring - and it's nearly that time again!  I love daffodils.  I need to plant some bulbs, but unfortunately this year, I'll have to buy a couple of bunches instead. 

My mum is a cancer survivor, as are many others I know.  And I've lost people to cancer.  So daffodils hold a special place in my heart.

Anyway, here's what I've been up to -

catching moments like this..... I was upstairs for a moment and left her to "look after" her brother....  I returned (and had a moment to grab my camera) to find....

and this...

there was cuter ones - with him mouth wide open and her kissing *bless*

Making these...

My dad doesn't celebrate his birthday, but I always sneak something his way on the day.  Princess Adelaide and I got busy in the kitchen.  They look a bit fancy, but are SO easy!

Delicious lunches like this...... (which I just ate today - who says healthy can't be delicious!!)

The only things I missed out on in my salad were tomato and cucumber.  But alas, I already spent a fortune buying half the ingredients for this sort of thing in this weeks shopping... looking forward to summer!

What else can I tell you?

I've lost 3kgs

I've exercised 5 days a week (for 2 weeks) alternating cardio and resistance

I feel real good

My abs are returning! (slowly)

I have a sewing machine on my table - working on a project for playcentre

I don't really sew

I'm craving warmer weather

Last night I ate a 4 course meal with Dave's colleagues

I really enjoyed myself

I tried roasted duck for the first time

I ordered tuna off a menu (I am not a tuna person)

The tuna was mild in flavour and actually quite nice

I skipped the glass of wine I was looking forward to - and traded it for my delicous dessert!

My Year in Progress....

So, I'm reviewing the last 8 months of my year...

This post here reminded me that I needed to do this.  See, it's kind of hanging over me a bit.

Well, so far, this year has been much of what 2010 brought.  Difficulty.  Thankfully, the difficulty has a ribbon of triumph weaved through it all.

God gave me this scripture for 2010 -

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!" - ps 65.11-13

I'm now claiming it for this season

Some of my "goals" I have not been able to physically achieve (ie exercise through pregnancy) - because of illness.  But I still have a few months left to try to get the others under my belt.

My wee boy is 6 weeks old now - and as a family we've decided we're in need of some healthy eating regime.  I love cooking, baking and entertaining.  Even more, I love eating.  So we've been loaded up on plenty of sugary goodness over the last few months and both hubby and I are a little worse off for it.

You may remember one of my goals was to lose weight while breastfeeding.  Last time, I couldn't knock about 7 of the pregnancy kgs until I stopped.  This time, I'm hoping to knock the last off.  And it is 7kgs! lol. fancy that!

I hear gasps from half of you - so just for the record, I'm not going to do be a diet freak.  I'm not going hard out low carb like I would if I wasn't breastfeeding - but I am making good choices.  I will aim for slow and steady loss & toning.  If I see bubba get affected by it, I will make alterations.

So instead of my weetbix or toast for brekky, I'm opting for whole-grain rolled oat porridge.  (OMGOSH).

The plan is also to do moderate exercise.  After all, I am supposed to be doing a triathlon in April with this lovely lady.  So I'm thinking if I start now and work up slowly, I'll be ready to do some more intense training in the new year (hahaha).

Perhaps I will add a weekly review of how this is going and some stats of my hoped-for weight loss.  The real aim for me is fitness, and toning up of my whole body my "fatty bits".

As for the other goals:

try to be a little bit tidier - I can say, I am definitely achieving this one!  I actually thought this was the least likely for me to achieve.  And I'm doing it naturally now!

be more encouraging - I would hope this to be true, but I haven't made as much effort as I would of liked.  Thankfully I still have a few months left.

look for God and gold in people - still working on this - and probably will be forever.

draw God and gold out of people - am doing this!

have even more of an open home - definitely improved, but want to be even better.

get to know more people - definitely achieved this one - ay bloggy babes ;-)

improve my guitar playing - the hubster has given me a few more tricks to use!

As for any additional goals - one of them (which I had not publically confessed) was to play keyboard at church at somepoint.  Well, fancy that - I have done it!

I even did it while worship leading a few times (which is not an easy feat) - and am a self confessed lover of this!  I'm looking forward to getting back into it in the not too far away future.

Well - that's me, are you seeing some of your goals achieved?

Some sweet loves.....

Celebrating a special ladies' (my mum-in-law) milestone birthday - filled with LOTS of very unexpected treats & surprises (and sneaky texts between me and my father in law!) ;-)

Wooly hats and fun times with my girl (after being apart for nearly a month!)

Getting my mop chopped (after about 9 months of no cuts) - and in quite a different style to what I normally would.  I love it!  Thanks mum for minding the TWO kiddies!

Very gorgeous and hand-crafted wee pressies coming in the post, from beautiful and clever friends - check her out here

I'm also loving.....

• YUMMO meals friends are cooking us while we're busy with bub
• Some VERY encouraging words in cards from some thoughtful friends who know my loves!
• being at HOME!  it's amazing how long ago everything seems now that I'm back
• That my once "only" child has taken becoming one of two AMAZINGLY well!
• Being a family again!

Ahhh, (insert giant sigh here) life is feeling pretty good again.