Time to Shake Things Up

Just before I was impregnated with the most delicious little cupcake who has made me the happiest I've ever been, I was feeling pretty good about my bod. I was in the absolute best shape of my life. And I owe it all to my bun, Katie, who prompted me to join her in a Fitness Challenge. We had been motivating each other by adding a little friendly competition to our workouts on-and-off for the past couple years and having someone to cheer you on and hold you accountable makes all the difference.

But then we both somehow magically became pregnant within a couple months of each other, and I've found myself almost a year after giving birth (much, much later than I intended) without really having started my crazy workout routine back up.

I had been walking all along and that with breastfeeding melted most of my pregnancy weight right off. And I even joined Baby Boot Camp a few weeks ago and love the Saturday morning mommy-and-me stroller-based workouts. Plus I bought a great Groupon deal for 20 classes at a local gym. One would think I was in it to win it. But since the weather's been cold and wet I've been letting myself slide far too much. I mean, we have our very own private gym with an elliptical, treadmill, and Bowflex all dusted off out of the garage and ready for us to get back into the groove. But I still needed that extra kick to hold myself accountable... enter Katie and Fitness Challenge 2012.

We'll be using this new site, stickK, that Katie discovered to help track the realization of our personal fitness goals (much easier than the insane spreadsheets we crafted for previous fitness challenges but we'll see if it holds up as well). So February is my month. Ava will turn one in a couple weeks and I'm ready to be one hot mama.

P.S. My lovely Jennifer just sent me this hilarious video that cinched the deal...

Please tell me this video doesn't make you want to shake your money-maker.

To love and be loved.

Ava has become incredibly affectionate this past month, giving hugs and sometimes even kisses to everyone and everything she comes into contact with.

She started out by hugging (and wrestling with) her big white teddy inherited from Uncle Troy. This was really funny to watch because the thing's almost as big as she is.

Then she moved onto the little stuffed lion her Uncle Alec brought to welcome her into the world on the day she was born. She squeezes and squeezes and smiles from ear to ear and makes my heart melt.

Even better, though, is when she finally started giving me hugs and kisses. We would be playing on the play mat in her room and she stopped what she was doing to crawl the two feet over to me and nestle her little mug right into my breasts and stretch her arms out around me. This is truly what life is all about.

Party Pinning

The amount of time I've been spending on Pinterest lately scoping out cute party ideas, you'd think I was a professional party planner. (And it turns out I'm not alone. Read this article to learn more about the crazy pinning phenomenon and pick up some helpful tips to become a better pinner.) But no, I just have some big events on the horizon and I want to be prepared. Okay, no one needs to be this prepared. I actually just have a real pinning problem and I can't stop!

(Here is the board I've been working on for Ava's first birthday coming up in less than a month.)

Happy New Year!

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