Friday, January 2, 2009

IMPORTANT

The Peel is moving.

We are hopping through cyberspace over to our new home at Wordpress. I've imported everything so it shouldn't be too different (except in looks). You all just need the new link.

Which is:

http://bananapeelblog.wordpress.com/

Please join me over there!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Water

Do you drink enough water? I know I don't. Not consistently anyways. I did a little searching around the Internet to find out how much I should be drinking. I think this article was pretty good at describing how much you should be drinking, and it is a reputable source.

If you don't want to take the time to click over and read it yourself. This is what the article said:

Several approaches attempt to approximate water needs for the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate.

  • Replacement approach. The average urine output for adults is about 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) a day. You lose close to an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your total fluid intake, so if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups) along with your normal diet, you will typically replace the lost fluids.
  • Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another approach to water intake is the "8 x 8 rule" — drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, "drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," as all fluids count toward the daily total. Though the approach isn't supported by scientific evidence, many people use this basic rule as a guideline for how much water and other fluids to drink.
  • Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine advises that men consume roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.

Even apart from the above approaches, if you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and produce 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) or more of colorless or slightly yellow urine a day, your fluid intake is probably adequate. Mayo Clinic Staff April 19, 2008

So, here is my goal for this week. I am going to drink at least 32 oz. (1 liter) of water per day. To make this goal easier for me to accomplish I went to the store last night and bought each of us a water bottle that holds 32 oz. They were the cheapo kind that cost 2 dollars. I got a little one that holds 16 oz. (1 pint) for The Blue-Eyed Boy (I read a few things that said that toddlers will get all the water they need and that it doesn't need to be regulated. UNLESS they have had a fever or been sick. So, his is mostly just so he can be like Daddy--and maybe get him off the sippy cups? A Momma can hope!). This morning I filled it with water and have been drinking it (The Hunk filled his and took it to work with him). So far today I have 16ish oz to go.

So there you go. Every day this week I want you to try to drink at least 32 oz. of water a day. Go grab a water bottle if you already have one, or go get one from the store to make it easier for yourself!

Here's to taking it one step at a time!

This post is part of the 365 days to whole foods series.

Welcome 2009

Happy New Year dear friends! Another year has come and gone- how fast it flew! So many things have happened in the past year I can't believe it is over already. It seems like yesterday it was the first day of 2008.

With a New Year comes new resolutions. I always make several, and I never do them. I try real hard and then I forget/stop/fail my resolutions. So this year in the attempt to actually accomplish my resolution I am only choosing one. And one that I feel really really motivated to actually do. And it's not one of those--today bam! I'm going to stop doing something. Because, as we all know-- that don't work. So, my resolution is going to be gradual, slowly changing throughout the year so that (hopefully) in 365 days from today I will have accomplished my goal.

Are you curious what it is?

Well, I am happy to inform you that you will all be able to take the journey with me. Every week I am going to have a new goal to strive for which will get me one step closer to my over-arching resolution.

What is my resolution?

My resolution is that by the end of 2009, in 365 days from today, I will have converted myself and my family from eating semi/not really at all-healthy to a healthy whole foods diet.
I want to get rid of all the over-processed, empty calorie, nutrient void foods that we eat. And replace them with natural, un-processed, nutrient dense really-good-for-you foods.

I know a lot of people make "eating healthy" one of their resolutions. Maybe if we all work together and keep each other accountable, we can actually reach that goal?

I am hoping that by setting a small goal every week (and hopefully a goal that is relatively easy for everyone to accomplish) by the end of the year I (we?) will have accomplished my (our?) goal. And rather painlessly.

So what do you say? Will you join me? I hope you will--I'm sure you body with thank you.

Here's a toast to 365 days to whole foods!

(see my next post for the first weeks goal)

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

I think it's time for a change

Preface: I'm one of those Momma's who do not rock their baby until they are completely asleep and then lay them down. I've been very deliberate ever since The Red-Haired Girl was born to put her down when she was semi awake. This has made it possible for me to nurse her and put her directly in her bed whether she is asleep or not and know she will go to sleep on her own. (I must also add that I do not let her "cry it out" either. Fussing is okay, but if she starts crying, I will go in to get her and we try again. I could never stomach letting my baby cry for hours on end just to get them to sleep.)

So today I did what I always do. I nursed her then laid her down in her bassinet and left the room. I was holding Little Dizzy and talking with The Blue-Eyed Boy when I heard this strange sort of noise. It sounded like something was in my pots and pans cupboard. My immediate thought was "Oh no! The mouse is in my cupboard!" (we still haven't caught the last one, sneaky little devil!).

Then I heard a baby giggle.

So, with Little Dizzy in tow I tip-toed into the bedroom and this is what I found.........



The pots and pan sound must have been the piggy bank.

She has never gotten to a sitting position on her own, until today! She started really crawling on Sunday. Oh boy am I in trouble. But I LOOOOOVE it! There is nothing cuter than that little baby butt sticking out as she crawls. This is our first crawling baby, so it's all new (The Blue-Eyed Boy never crawled, he skipped right from rolling to walking)!

I think she needs to move to the crib. The only problem--there is no room anywhere in this teeny tiny house for a full-size crib. Our lease is up in February, but The Hunk doesn't want to move in winter again. I don't really want to either, but I do want to leave this house (REALLY BADLY to tell the truth--I don't like it here at all. This house was great when there were only three of us, but it's waaaay too small for four.).

I want my baby to be safe, even if that means moving in winter again (at least this time I won't be pregnant and will be able to help!!)

Dilemma. Dilemma.

In the meantime I cleaned off the dresser so she can't get into any of it, and put the locking clips in place so the bassinet can't rock anymore.

Hopefully that will be enough.....until we figure something else out.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The Life and Times of the "Little Wife"

Today The Blue-Eyed Boy was playing with his new Playdough set thanks to his Great Aunt Teri and Choitka Erica (Aunt in Polish for those of you who're not lucky enough to be called a Pollock!). He was having a grand old time (making a huge mess) wallowing in the Playdough fun-ness.

The fun-ness continued on until he couldn't find something that he wanted......

The Blue-Eyed Boy: "Momma where's my little wife?"
Me (wondering if I heard him right): "What are you looking for Babe?"
The Blue-Eyed Boy (frustrated--but I would be too if I had to repeat myself countless times a day): "My LITTLE WIIIIIFE!!!"
Me (in my head thinking.....well probably with her family somewhere, or not born yet...but I don't think that's what he means): "I'm not sure what you're talking about, and I don't think you know what you're saying either. Tell me again"
The Blue-Eyed Boy: "My little wife, momma. I need my little wife!"
I just stared at him in confusion while he continued searching. I couldn't for the life of me figure out if he was making a statement far beyond his years or if he was actually looking for something that existed!
The Blue-Eyed Boy (triumphantly): "There it is!! There's my little wife!"

He then proceeded to pick his little yellow Playdough KNIFE up off the windowsil.

and oh did I laugh!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Our Advent Celebration--Christmas Day

Here is our final celebration of Advent. Christmas if finally here!

Christmas Day
5th Candle-(white) "CHRIST CANDLE"
The white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins. His birth was for his death; his death was for our birth. (John 1:29 and John 3:1-8)

Scripture Readings: Psalm 100; Revelation 3:20-21

Songs: Wonderful Maker, He Reigns, Here is Our King, Holy and Anointed One

Prayer

Printable Version of Christmas Day

Entire Advent Celebration

Week 1 & 2; Week 3; Week 4

Have a very merry Christmas!

 
design by suckmylolly.com