Whose Child Is This?

In honor of the last day if school, I'd like to share a poem Kendall's teacher sent home with her this week.
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Whose Child Is This?

Author Unknown

"Whose child is this?" I asked one day

Seeing a little one out to play.

"Mine," said the parent with a tender smile.

"Mine to keep a little while,

To bathe his hands and comb his hair,

To tell him what he is to wear,

To prepare him that he may always be good

And each day to do the things he should."

"Whose child is this?" I asked again

As the door opened and someone came in.

"Mine," said the teacher with the same tender smile.

"Mine to keep just for a little while,

To teach him how to be gentle and kind,

To train and direct his dear little mind,

To help him live by every rule

And get the best he can from school."

"Whose child is this?" I asked once more

Just as the little one entered the door.

"Ours," said the parent and teacher as they smiled

And each took the hand of the little child.

"Ours to love and train together.

Ours, this blessed task, forever."

Sacrifices

I've been making sacrifices since I had my children.  Most moms do.  We sacrifice our bodies in order to carry our babies to term.  We sacrifice our sleep in order to feed and rock our babies.  We sacrifice a shower in order to catch a few winks while the baby is sleeping.  We sacrifice that new dress or new shoes so our children can have a new train or a new baby doll.  We sacrifice our vacation with girls in order to instead spend our vacation time on our families (OK, so that's not really a "sacrifice," but more of a trade-off.)  Like I said, I've been making sacrifices for almost 6 years.

However, recently (7 weeks and 5 days ago, to be exact) I decided to stop sacrificing one hour out of my day.  I decided to take one hour of my day, every day, to devote completely to myself.  I've been finding time, every day, to work out.  Granted, I do it in my family room while the kids are playing usually, or during nap time for Brady, and Tanner plops in front of the TV, but I do it.  And I do it completey for me.

It feels a little selfish, taking this time for myself.  But I realized a few months back that I needed to start taking care of myself.  I am "in" my 30's now, and I've been complaining about the way I look and the way I feel for around 10 years or so.  Granted, I was no tiny thing when Tim and I got married, but I was thinner and healthier than I was after Tanner was born.  My first pregnancy took a major toll on my body, packing on 65 pounds and taking my blood pressure to unreasonable heights.  My first Cesarean ripped me to pieces (literally), and it took me a long time to get back to, what I thought, was an acceptable weight/size.  I found a picture the other day of a picture my mom took when I had finally gotten back down into my "skinny" jeans.  (Little did we know that I was actually pregnant in that picture!)  Anyway, the second pregnany was easier, and I only gained 35 pounds (Doc was sooo happy!).  But even after Tanner was born, and Weight Watchers helped me burn that baby fat off, I still wasn't happy with the way I look.

Now granted, most women aren't happy with the way they look, whether it be their face or their butt.  My problem area is my stomach (oh, and my cottage cheese butt, but I can't see it, so it doesn't bother me all that much).  And it seems that since coming off my anxiety meds over a year ago, this 10 pounds just ain't going anywhere.

So, I have made the decision to get over it.  Get over the 10 pounds.  I am OK with what I weigh, even if most health and beauty magazines say I am "overweight."  I am 5'1" and weigh 122 pounds.  And it's all good.  Because I know muscle weighs more than fat.  And I have a lot of muscle.  And since I started working out, I have a lot less fat.  I'm assuming.

So the workout -- exactly 7 weeks and 5 days ago, my SIL and I started the P90X program.  This is my second go-around with P90X.  It's really a love/hate relationship.  The first time, I only made it about 2 weeks before I gave up.  It is strenuous ... daily workouts, all consisting of at least an hour of sweatiness.  When I first tried, Tanner was still young and there just wasn't an hour in my day that I was willing to give up to workout.

Did I mention I hate working out?

Yeah, that makes a big difference.  I mean, seriously, if I love eating and I love watching TV, why would I give up those things in order to do something I loathe?

But, I made the commitment with Keri.

And honestly, knowing that she is doing it "with" me helps me stay motivated.  There are also several of my other friends who are doing it, along with my cousin.  Everyone's goals are different, but we're all doing it.  And I'm so glad I haven't given up yet.  It's hard to believe I've stayed with it this long!  But every day I feel stronger and my stamina is improving.  I'm not losing any weight, but I don't care because I know I'm getting healthier.  I can see big changes in my chest, shoulders, arms, and legs (not sure how things look back there since I can't see it), and I'm pretty sure I could kick Tim's butt right now. ;0)  Now I can actually finish every workout, including the Ab Ripper X.  And what's even better is I look forward to my workout every day.  (I know, right?  Who is this person who has invaded my body??!!)

Anyway, where I was going with this ...

Sacrifices.

What have I sacrificed in order to do my workouts and take care of myself?

I have sacrificed watching Days of Our Lives.  Silly, I know, but I've been watching Days of Our Lives since I was 15 years old.  Many days now the 1-2 PM time frame is the only "free" hour I have, so I use it a little more wisely.  (Side note -- I still record Days every day ... just in case I have time to watch it.)  This was an excellent sacrifice to make since I usually wasn't just watching Days ... there was usually some food involved.

I have sacrificed cleaning the house.  I mean really, who wants to do that with all their free time?

I have sacrificed blogging.  This one makes me a bit sad, but I have also been a bit uninspired lately ... or over-inspired is probably a better way to describe it.  There has been so much going on and we've been so busy that I can't pinpoint one thing to talk about.  I'm pretty sure people are getting tired of hearing about my daily trials with my kids, and when the really awesome stuff happens, I forget to blog about it.  So I have stepped away from the computer for a short time.  But I will return when I find something really awesome to talk about.

Like me taking back what is rightfully mine.

My body.  And my health.  And my one hour of the day to take care of them!

A Mother's Day Post

OK, yes, I know, it's Wednesday after Mother's Day, but I've just gotten around to reading all the blogs I follow because the weekend was crazy-nutz, and all my other free time on the computer has been spent trying to pass these stupid pre-tests on my PLU class.  (Side : I cannot take the final until I make a 70% or higher on the all the pre-tests.  And this class is no joke!!  Much harder than the last 3 classes.)

Anyway,  here's an excellent Mother's Day post for MY mom.  I can't imagine being one of those people who isn't close to his/her mom.  My mom is a major part of my world, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

And I am proud to be more like her every day!

Favorite Photo Friday

Tanner Michael - September 2008

I came across this one yesterday doing some routine maintenance on the external hard drive.  This is one of the last pictures I got of Tanner right before we had his first real big boy haircut.  He was still so small ... barely two years old.  And those curls ... oh those curls.  I can still feel him lying in my arms, rocking while I twirled those curls on my fingers at the nape of his neck.  Sometimes now, when Tanner really looks shaggy and like he needs a haircut, I wonder, "What if we let it grow out  Would those curls return?"  Of course not.  Those were baby curls ... so I'll just hang onto this picture and the memories it holds!

10 Years?? No way ...

... it's like we're never apart.

OK, so maybe some of us are married now ... or divorced ... or have kids ... or have dogs and cats ... or live in our 2nd or 3rd house ...

But every time we meet up again, we always have a good time.

So when, at Marsha's wedding in November, it was decided that the Morris family would be hosting a reunion in May, I was very excited.  Not only did it keep me from planning Kendall's birthday party entirely too early, but it gave me a reason to really get some things done around the house!  Nothing puts a fire under this butt like a shindig at our house.

All the Sigma's I could find from pledge class of 1996 were invited, and I actually hoped more would be able to make it, but we have many who live all over the US, so it was inevitable that some couldn't make it.

Those who couldn't make it were dearly missed, and those who were here had a blast.  We aren't quite as loud as we used to be, and we can't quite hang as long as we used to (Poor Eddie was falling asleep as we talked about our pets!), but an excellent time was had by all.

I love my Sigma Kay girls.  While I have been taunted and  teased about how they are the best friends "money can buy," I don't care.  Yes, we met through a sorority, which may seem unconventional to some.  And yes, they may not have crossed my path if we hadn't met through Sigma Kappa.

But every time one of them comes through for me when I need her, I am reminded that we share a bond that goes far beyond any amount of money.