Week Three Results

Still going strong at 100%

Physically Better Yourself

1. Exercise at least 45 minutes a day!

Monday - Cycle Class

Tuesday - Body Pump & Walk

Wednesday - Walk

Thursday - Cycle Class

Friday - Walk

Saturday - Walk & 30 Min Cycle Class

Sunday - Rest

2. Get AT LEAST 7 hours of sleep a night.

3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

4. No Sugar- What I "got" to turn down this week...

Shake, Cake, Brownies

5. No Soda, Fast Food, or Junk Food - What I "got" to turn down this week...

Staying home most of the week kept most temptations away.

6. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of vegetables (variety I had)

Butternut Squash, Peas, Carrots, Mushrooms, Bananas, Watermelon, Grapes, Salad, Corn on the Cob, Mushrooms, Peppers, Avocado, Beans Peaches, Necterines

7. No eating after 8 p.m.

Emotionally/Spiritually Better Yourself

8. Write in your journal EVERY DAY.

9. Complete at least 15 minutes of uplifting reading or scripture study.

10. Complete an act of service or random act of kindness.

Week Two Results

Still going strong with 100% of my points. My free day wasn't near as painful as last week, and I eased up on all the sugar/junk I ate :)

Physically Better Yourself

1. Exercise at least 45 minutes a day!

Monday - Body Pump

Tuesday - Cycle

Wednesday - Walk

Thursday - Cycle Class

Friday - Body Pump/Cardio kick butt class, Hiked to Donut Falls and

Ran around Raging Waters with my nephews for 2 hours

Saturday - 1 hour Step & 1 hour Pump

Sunday - Rest

2. Get AT LEAST 7 hours of sleep a night.

Had to take lots of naps this week to make up for the sleep lost while caring for a sick child, but I would so much rather take care of her here at home than have to have her in the hospital.

3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Tried to drink my water before 8:00 pm so I could avoid 2-3 middle of the night bathroom breaks.

4. No Sugar- What I "got" to turn down this week...

Rootbeer Float, more homemade oreos...not quite as bad this week because we weren't at a family reunion/party all week ;)

5. No Soda, Fast Food, or Junk Food - What I "got" to turn down this week...

Potato Chips, Homeade Rootbeer, Wendy's menu

6. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of vegetables (variety I had)

Peas, Salad, Apple, Banana, Nectarine, Strawberries, Corn on the Cob, Green Beans, Tomatoes, Peppers, Watermelon, Salad Bar with EVERYTHING :)

7. No eating after 8 p.m.

Much easier this week than last, I think I only had to have gum one day :)

Emotionally/Spiritually Better Yourself

8. Write in your journal EVERY DAY.

9. Complete at least 15 minutes of uplifting reading or scripture study.

As its pioneer day, I wanted to read my favorite pioneer account so I did a search and found it in this beautiful talk by President James E. Faust. My favorite story is the one at the beginning about those who became acquainted with God through their experience.

Refined in Our Trials (Click to read)

10. Complete an act of service or random act of kindness.

Week One Results

Physically Better Yourself

1. Exercise at least 45 minutes a day!

Monday - Body Pump

Tuesday - Walked

Wednesday - Walked/Yoga

Thursday - Cycle Class

Friday - Body Pump/Cardio kick butt class

Saturday - 20 min walk, 30 min Cycle class

Sunday - Rest

2. Get AT LEAST 7 hours of sleep a night.

Check and check

3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Luckily I've gotten pretty good at this one with being pregnant, so it's one of the easiest ones for me.

4. No Sugar- What I "got" to turn down this week...

Fudge, Donuts, Laffy Taffy, Cinnamon Bears, Rice Crispy, Muffins, Sugary Cereal, Whipped Cream Based Salad, Cookies, 4 batches of homeade oreos that I made for my g-mas birthday party.

5. No Soda, Fast Food, or Junk Food - What I "got" to turn down this week...

McDonalds, Chips, Wayne's Soda (I usually take a sip or two a day), Fries

6. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of vegetables (variety I had)

Spinach

Cherries

Raspberries

Watermelon

Carrots

Tomatoes

Lettuce

Cucumber

Mangos

Grapes

Banana

Peas

Salad

Cantaloupe

Strawberries

7. No eating after 8 p.m.

These little puppies were my saving grace :)

Emotionally/Spiritually Better Yourself

8. Write in your journal EVERY DAY.

This was pretty fun, it will be nice to look back on. I also enjoyed reading past entries from when we first got married and to think about all that has happened in our lives since then and that we are even happier now :)

9. Complete at least 15 minutes of uplifting reading or scripture study.

I've been reading the Ensign more and also my scriptures. I'm also trying to read the little kid scriptures with Kaelyn on the I-Pad.

10. Complete an act of service or random act of kindness.

Its been really nice to take time each day and really think about others and how I can serve them. I know that serving others is such a great way to be happy!

Kaelyn and I shared a sugar free Jello, not sure how much made it to her tummy.

"What are you looking at"?

8 Week Challenge

Today I started a 8 week lifestyle/better habits challenge, thanks to my friend Teresa. She did it back in January and LOVED it, so after hearing about her experience I decided to do it! I really need the extra motivation to get me through these last 3 months of pregnancy. I've been doing good to keep up my exercise routine and at least attempt to eat a nutritious diet, but as the pounds add up, it's started getting harder to stay motivated and keep it up. So I'm excited for this Challenge to help me clean up my act and also better my life in other areas :) Everyone put in $$ to enter the challenge and then the winners get cut of it.

Here's what it entails; http://8weekstoabetteryou.blogspot.com

As a participant, you will have the opportunity to earn points every day by following a list of requirements. At the end of every week, you will total your points then record them to the "8 Weeks to a Better You Points Bracket".

Here's how you earn points...

Physically Better Yourself

1. Exercise at least 45 minutes a day!

2. Get AT LEAST 7 hours of sleep a night (if you are short a little just squeeze a nap in to make up for it).

3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day

4. No Sugar-there are different ways to do this. We prefer eliminating sugars and white flours (which turn into sugars) to get the most bang for your buck. But if you would like to just do without sugars than you can make that call.

5. No Soda, Fast Food, or Junk Food

6. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of vegetables

7. No eating after 8 p.m.
(unless it's your dinner-but try really hard to get dinner in earlier)

Emotionally/Spiritually Better Yourself

8. Write in your journal EVERY DAY.

9. Complete at least 15 minutes of uplifting reading or scripture study.

10. Complete an act of service or random act of kindness. Whether it be a small one or a big one, do something kind for someone else that is out of your normal routine.

Now we know this is not easy so to help out you get a FREE DAY where you get the full 10 points whether or not you complete all the requirements! You can choose which day of each week is your free day each week, but you cannot choose different days for different points. Theonly exception to this rule is exercise. Your free day from exercise can be different if you choose. For example - you may choose Saturday as your free day but choose to workout that day and take Sunday off from exercise.

Possibly points earned - 10 per day, 70 per week.

I REALLY want to try and get a PERFECT SCORE every week! The "No Sugar and Junk Food" will definitely be the hardest ones for me, but they are the ones that I need the most help with right now. I'm excited to get back to writing in my journal too. I busted it out yesterday and saw that the last time I wrote in it was August 2007!! Yikes, just a little catching up to do ;) I'm planning on using my blog to post how I did each week, so expect a little more posting from me.

Summer Games 2011

This past weekend I went down and played volleyball in the Summer Games with some friends. It was a BLAST! A few of us has played together, but it was our first time all playing together and we did awesome! We won the GOLD medals, and boy were we proud. The competition was pretty good, there were lots of former college players and teams from all over the state. Three of us are pregnant, so our team name was "Baby Bumps". We are all looking forward to next year's tournament!

Back Row (L-R) - Kaycee Anderson, Me, Liz Mcknight, Ashley Murray

Front Row - Karly Sipherd, Alydia Fields

Thanks to Wayne we got Mountain American Credit Union to sponsor us! (hence the picture of our backs, we had to show them we represented them well :) )

Today I was glad to be pregnant...

Why you might ask? I went into the bank to close an account and when I went up to the counter to get my money the young guy working as a teller asked, "Are you having a boy or a girl?" I happily answered, "GIRL". He is the first one brave enough to ask that question, and I give him props. It made me happy because someone could tell I'm prego and not just sporting a gut :)

Then I started thinking what I would have done had I not been expecting...After talking it over with Kaelyn we decided it would have been best to just pretend I was pregnant. That would have at least saved him the embarrassment of such an awkward situation.

Which reminds me of one of my favorite pregnant question stories. My friends mom was in a store and said to a lady in line, "Either you're expecting or you're trying to steal a basketball". The lady replied, "I'm not pregnant". Then the only thing my friends mom could think to say, "So you're trying to steal a basketball?" Not really sure how that story ended, but it makes me laugh, and also taught me a very important lesson about not asking strangers if they are pregnant or anyone for that matter :)

Oh yea, for anyone who still reads this and didn't know, I'm 5 months pregnant, 21 weeks and 5 days to be exact. Kaelyn's going to have a little sister and I can already tell they are going to be the best of friends.

Picture taken in Kaelyn's hospital room bathroom

*BTW, I'm happy to be pregnant every day, not just today :)

Day 30

Your favorite song

Yay! It only took me 46 days to complete my 30 days of blogging challenge. This last one is kind of hard, for the longest time I haven't really had a FAVORITE song. In high school it was IRIS by Goo Goo Dolls, and though I still love it, its not at the top of my chart. I would say that my favorite song right now is a beautiful song by Mindy Gledhill, Small Enough. I love when it comes on during "Sounds of Sunday" while I'm getting ready for church.

I am in awe at the fact that my Heavenly Father, MY Heavenly Father is the same being that created this magnificent earth that we live on. That he literally has ALL power and that all mankind that have been and will yet be on this earth are HIS children. Everyone one of them, and he loves us all so much. Yes, He is the same God that I pray to daily, that I talk to like a friend, that sends comfort when I need it, cheering me on when I triumph and the first to teach me humility, He is always near. I don't know how He does it, but He does it, and I am amazed. While I was pregnant with Kaelyn and when she was in the hospital, I had some very tender conversations with him. There were many times I told Him I couldn't do it, it was just too hard. It was in those times, when the burden of possibly losing my daughter, I felt his loving arms wrap around me and carry me, he was there. I'm pretty sure in the life before He and I made a deal. He told me that he would send beautiful sunsets to remind me that we would always be close by. When I see His masterpieces in the sky I know, he is here. He has watched out for me in every aspect of my life, continually teaching me that it will work out, and it will be okay. Even if His okay isn't my okay, I have learned to trust that He knows best. He hears my prayers and He knows exactly what's in my heart, He even answers the prayers I don't dare say.

Small Enough Lyrics

O great God
be small enough to hear me now
There were times when I was crying
from the dark of Daniel's den
and I have asked you once or twice
if you would part the sea again
but tonight I do not need a
fiery pillar in the sky
just want to know you're gonna hold me
if i start to cry

O great God
be small enough to hear me now
O great God
be close enough to feel you now
(O great God be close to me)

There have been moments when I could
not face Goliath on my own
and how could I forget we've
marched around our share of Jericho
But I will not be setting out a fleece
for you tonight
just want to know that everything
will be alright

O great God
be close enough to feel you now

All praise and all the honor be
to the God of ancient mysteries
whose every sight and wonder
turn the pages of our history
but tonight my heart is heavy
and I cannot keep from whispering this prayer
are you there?

And I know you could leave writing on
the wall thats just for me
or send wisdom while I'm sleeping
like in Solomon's sweet dreams
but i don't need the strength of Samson
or a chariot in the air
just want to know that you still know
how many hairs are on my head

O great God
(are you small enough?)
be small enough to hear me now