Merry Christmas

This is just a random picture of Mr. Saul since he's been severely underdocumented in the last 6 months.  And it's also to record that he's actually eating something (that's not a bottle of milk or a cheesestick...or candy) without being coerced.  Oh, and to show that he finally got a "big boy" haircut too. 

So, it's now the first day of December and I am realizing that I haven't written a blog post in over a month. 

Recently I participated in a fitness challenge that a friend organized.  It meant that for eight weeks I had to give up eating sugar, soda, etc., and then exercise a certain amount during the week, among other things.  It made me work hard--and in the end, I did it, and it felt really great.  100%.  Honestly, I didn't feel more healthy or fit or I didn't lose a certain amount of weight, but none of those were my goals.  My goal was to see if I could make time for exercise when I am constantly sure that I am too busy.  My goal was to see if I could pass up the lousy storebought cookies that are being passed out and the end of Pack Meeting or the canned frosting on the cupcakes at Olivia's class party.  And I learned a few things about myself--like that I can say no to an open bulk-sized bag of peanut MnMs in the cupboard and all of those other desserts, and that I can actually run more than 400 feet without deciding to take a break.

Yes, thank you, thank you....I am really happy about getting through the whole thing. So, armed with all this new-found empowerment (is that a word?), I thought that I'd take a break for Thanksgiving pie and such, but then I would go back to skipping the sweets.  But, so far, not so much.  I would list off the amount of sugar/fat I've eaten today, but it would be embarrassing.  Instead, I've learned something else about myself:  that I don't have much discipline unless it's my reputation and/or money on the line.   

Which, after I finished a second piece of lemon cake that a friend brought me tonight, made me decide my newest challenge.  And unless I make it public, I won't feel any obligation.  So, for December I'm going to try and do a post a day. Well, maybe this will all end up like my announcement that I was potty training Isabel...

If anything, it might get me to stop feeling like I have to "catch up" before I can actually post anything that I'm currently doing.  Or it might get me to stop thinking that I have to mop the floor first so that I feel like I did something that was actually useful.  But more than anything, I'm sick of not having a record of what our family is doing, or what funny things my kids are saying (i.e. Isabel: "Frick-or-Freat!").  And, in the long run, this blog is for me.  And, well, maybe for my mom too, since she's been dilligently checking the blog everyday hoping more more pictures of Saul and the promised announcement that after 21 months, he finally is walking!  So, if it means I have to make it into a challenge for myself, then it's about time I embraced who I am. 

Oh, shoot....It's 11:59.....PUBLISH POST!

Post Edit...Well, dangit, I was two seconds too late, and according to Blogger, it's now December 2nd.  Why didn't I think of this at 9:30 instead of 11:50! Well, I'm still counting this for December 1st post.  And, then perhaps next month's challenge: time management.