The Road to Fitness

For those of you who don't know, having a baby can throw things out of whack! True story. I tend to forget how TIRED you feel and how it takes some time for your body to adjust to all the changes you are going through and have been going through for the last 9 months. It really can take a toll on you! for the frist 20 weeks of my pregnancy I was sick to my stomach. There was NOTHING that I wanted to eat and then the things I DID eat didn't stay long in my tummy...it wasn't pleasant. The last four months of my pregnancy I was just miserably warm! Ugh. The hottest summer in 18 years and I had to be pregnant for it! And to top it off there was the stress from Jonathan's sudden unemployment adventures. So it was a tiring summer to say the least!

However, such a wonderful blessing resulted from all of those trials and I have another cute little baby to snuggle and love.

And now my focus is shifting back to toning and getting my body back in shape (well not the round shape of pregnancy anyway). I've been doing some research and blog stalking. I came across a 21 day challenge that I've decided might be a great opportunity for me. It's called the 21 day healthy lunch challenge and you spend your month (or 3 weeks) creating healthy lunches that you can take with you to work or something that you can simply eat at home. This challenge is a good idea for me, because I've come to realize that I simply don't eat enough during the day! You get so busy and distracted that certain things, like meal time for yourself, gets set aside. So if I take on this challenge, not only will I be giving my body healthy nutrients, but I will also be giving my metabolism energy to burn off any excess calories and weight that I do NOT need. That's a win-win in my book!

I'm hoping to document my meals with recipes and pictures here on the blog. Maybe you guys would like to join me on this little adventure?

On top of that I'll be working every day to walk at least 1 mile and exercise. I've been exercising since before I gave birth but I want to be even more consistent in my approach. I always feel better when I'm doing something productive.

So that's my plan! Or part of it anyway. One step at a time I'm going to become a more fit and healthier and happier mommy. It's the least I can do for myself and my family.

Tomorrow is day 1! 

Restart...

Alright, I realize that I've been the world's worst blogger lately. I haven't updated anything at all! How terrible of me, considering I claim to absolutely love writing. Ha! You wouldn't believe that I am an English major with my pathetic display of blog posts lately.

So, I propose a restart. I'm determined to be far more consistent in my writing. I'm  hoping to post at least once a week, but if I could do once a day that would be awesome too. However, I don't want to set myself up for failure. That would be terrible really.

Okay, let's do this! Here is my restart post!

First off, the last time I wrote on this blog I was talking about restarting our lives and moving forward. Jonathan was unemployed at the time and had just gotten hired at a company. However, that fell through as well and he was unemployed for awhile longer. Needless to say things were scary and stressful and tiring and emotionally draining. But, thankfully, my family was looking out for us and the Lord had a plan in mind and Jonathan did finally find a job and he's currently working and providing for his family. What an amazing husband.

To top it off, we were expecting a baby this year...yes I know I didn't ever mention it but there were specific reasons behind that decision. However, it does not matter in the long run. All that matters is that Jonathan and I were beyond grateful for this little treasure in our lives. Sure things aren't planned the way we had anticipated, but I don't ever usually question the plans of the Lord.

So, let me just say that we welcomed our little son, Tucker, into the world one week ago (9/7/2012) and he is an absolute treasure. And so handsome! He was 6 lbs 15 oz and 18 inches long. Labor wasn't too terrible, except I tried to wake Jonathan up so we could go to the hospital and he didn't believe I was in labor! Ha! Then, they had to delay labor because I needed antibiotics to prevent any issues with the delivery of our little man and my doctor was needed to help with a c-section and another delivery. So it was a little longer than I wanted, but it was okay. When they finally broke my water (they waited so that things wouldn't progress too fast for them) it only took 20 minutes for me to finish dilating (I went from a 7 to a 10 in one contraction) and then get ready to push.

The antibiotics did their duty and our sweet baby is as healthy as can be. We do, however, have to avoid big crowds for the next few months, per orders from the pediatrician, because there is the potential for increased respiratory illness until he gets his vaccines. Specifically, we are to avoid church and any other large gathering of that sort. Interesting, eh?

And here he is...my handsome Tucker:



Also, in the update here, Hannah started preschool. I'm beyond happy for her because she is so excited about school and she absolutely loves learning. But, at the same time, I'm sad that my baby girl is growing up! Somethings the days just fly by and I can't really believe how big my children have gotten! It's insane!

But all the same, I'm very excited for her and I know that she is going to thrive.

And Liam and Hudson are doing wonderous as well! Thriving and growing and learning new things all the time! Liam is so smart and loves to help me read things. And Hudson is learning new words all the time! It's amazing how much he knows at such a young age! He's so articulate...and polite! He always says please and thank you. What a smart little guy!

So, that's all I have for the update right now. I will update again soon! :) Right now I need to take care of a little guy who has stolen my heart.

Au revoir mes amis!

Relaunch, Revamp, Rehabilitate, Refresh

In case you couldn't tell from my title, I'm attempting to wrap my head around several things and reflect on myself as a writer, mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.

I haven't updated my blog in so long. What a tragedy. I usually rely on writing to keep me sane and functioning properly. It is really something I thrive on and something that helps me to cope with the struggles of my life. That's why I find blogging (normally) to be so refreshing. I can say what I need to say and feel so emotionally revamped because I've expressed all my feelings.

So, can you see the need for me to get back into this?

In the last few months there have been so many different things going on in our lives over here at hte Spooner household. Rifts, trials, tribulations, anger, hurt, frustrations, pain, you name it, we've probably experienced it. One thing in particular that's weighed heavily on my mind is the sad prospect that people you truly put your heart out for, crush you and push you aside for selfish reasons. It's always painful to experience moments like that, and I'm sure we've all had those times. For me, the difficult part was trying to wrap my head around the WHY of the actions of others. WHY do those mean things to others? WHY cause pain? WHY strive to push others away and bring pain to their lives?

Our lives were turned upside down because of some of the decisions of other people. And we've struggled to keep our heads above water at moments. I've often been reduced to tears, trying to figure out the many WHYs of the things that have happened, but no answers have come. I've prayed hard to understand and determine the cause of all the problems we've experienced, but the Lord has kindly withheld that information from me.

And these last few months I've struggled with reconciling my pain with the knowledge that I probably won't ever receive those answers. I've felt so lost at moments, scared of the unknown in our lives right now. I'm scared. I don't know how to plan my life right now because everything is so up in the air.

In all honesty, I've felt for a long time that I was the reason for the problems. Maybe if I had been better, then things wouldn't be the way they are right now. I felt like I let down my spouse and children for the longest time.

The thought that has shone through, however, through all the pain, fear, anger, and frustration I've come to fully understand that the Lord loves me. He's always been there for me. He will always take care of me and my family as long as I rely on him. If I trust him with my problems and fears, he'll ease my burdens and make them light. At the end of the day and despite all the selfishness and conceit and anger in this world, the Lord's love can protect me.

The experiences we've had these last few months weren't a result of my failings or my husband's shortcomings. It's not that I wasn't good enough. It's not that I let anyone down and ruined our stable environment. No. At the end of it all, it's about the decisions of others. The key, though, for us to remember is that our little family is the most important thing and if we rely on the Lord, then the rest doesn't matter.

Everything will fall into place.

Our Story is my Favorite

Our Story is My Favorite: Jonathan and Kaleigh 

I never really considered myself to be beautiful. I have certain physical issues that have always made it hard for me to feel secure about who I am.  Candidly speaking I have a hereditary condition that has caused one of my eyes to not align properly, causing it to wander. My family has always tried to show me how pretty I am, but I never saw it. Neither did the opposite sex, it seemed. People have always asked awkward questions about my physical difference regarding vision, and I’ve always felt like an outsider looking in, never really feeling including in the whole game of romance.

                In short, I felt ugly.

                Until I met the person I knew I was going to marry.

We met when he was serving a mission for the LDS church in my home town and started corresponding with one another through e-mail.

I’d tease him about his red hair.

 
He would tease me about my habit of not wearing shoes.

 When he was released as a missionary, he returned back to his mission area to go to school, and to date me (he admitted later on that it was really to just date me). During that time he was sweet and a lot of fun to hang out with. Our first official date consisted of getting lost while hiking, and getting completely covered in dirt! I didn’t understand why he liked me though. I never really felt like I was attractive. His behavior confused me.

“You are beautiful,” he would always remind me, “You are so much more beautiful than you realize.”

He always tried to explain how special and unique I was. How he appreciated everything about me. How he believed I was beautiful inside and out.

It always brought tears to my eyes hearing those words. No guy I liked had ever said those words to me before.

                When we were pretty serious about each other, he hinted that he wanted to propose. Of course like most women I was excited and inwardly squealing (we’ve all done it!). He tried three separate times to propose to me, each on unsuccessful for various reasons out of his control. He felt so bad that things just weren’t perfect and romantic. I sort of just stopped expecting a proposal and was content with spending time with the guy I loved. When we got engaged things would be perfect I knew that.

                And they were.

                One night, during finals week, he took me to a reunion of several of his mission companions and then back to his apartment so we could work on homework. Being extremely tired from studying I assumed nothing was out of the ordinary and spent the evening perfecting an essay. When it was getting late, he offered to walk me home. I heartily agreed. I loved it when he walked with me.

                The night was beautiful. A light drizzle of ran pattered on our heads as we walked quietly back towards my dorm. It was all so peaceful.

When we reached the duck pond near my dorm, he pulled out a bag of bread.

                “I know I promised that we would feed the ducks,” he remarked with a smile.

                Call me corny, but I was thrilled! I love feeding ducks!

                So we spent the next ten minutes feeding ducks. We were swarmed by them! It was wonderful. Then, when the bread was gone, I started to chase after them so we could have a path to walk home on. And it was as I was chasing the quaking ducks that the person I love cleared his throat and softly said my name.

                When I turned around he was standing right behind me. He slowly got down on one knee, soaking his jeans with rain water and opened a small box.

                “I love you,” He stated hesitantly, “Will you…will you marry me?”

                My reaction?

                “Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!” I was so surprised! And overjoyed! I didn’t know what to say at first!

                I promptly tackled him repeating the word ‘YES!’ several times as he laughed and hugged me to him.

                “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered in my ear, “Never forget how beautiful you are to me. I love you.”