Meatless Mondays

Before my son, my husband and I were about 80% meatless and were working on getting rid of dairy and becoming Vegan. And then I got pregnant!

Way back when, we had just started dating, we watched Forks Over Knives. If you have not watched it, I recommend it, just know it is harsh and you will not want to eat meat after you see all the animal cruelty.

I should re-watch it. Because during my pregnancy and now while pumping/breastfeeding, I crave meat and find it is the only thing that is helping me to produce more milk and keep my energy levels up. Which has to be in my head.

OK now that I say it out loud or in writing, I am going to re-watch Forks Over Knives and do research on meat alternatives to keep my milk production up. I have been taking a lot of supplements and eating a ton more, but I never feel full. I could eat more fish, but as explained in Forks Over Knives a muscle is a muscle.

Anyway, the reason I am posting about meatless Monday is because I think it is healthy of us to go without meat. More than once a week, but if you have to start somewhere, then start with Monday or one day out of the week.

I already posted my favorite one pot pasta dish. i actually had left overs tonight, so so good. My goal is to post quick, easy, filling and inexpensive alternative meatless meals.

Feel free to post your meatless Monday recipes.

Questioning Christianity

I remember the first time I heard the word millennial. I was in church and our pastor was explaining the new generation of Christian. Millennials were born 1980 to 2000 and are more spiritual than religious. I am a millennial and more and more of us are joining the church to help lead them. This made me feel good and was happy to hear my fellow generation was spiritually connecting and helping to make a difference with in the Christian community.

My husband and I joined a church to grown in the Christian Community, to give our son structure and fellow healthy children to grow with. We joined in September and our son was born in November. Our church is very small so after a month we knew most of them and they knew us. After our son was born, our pastor came to visit us in the hospital to pray over us, which made me feel good about the church we chose.

While the pastor was there I took the the opportunity to chat with him and let him know where I was spiritually. In short, I was raised Catholic, I was baptized and went through communion, but I never liked church. I never went to church for guidance. I never prayed. We were never really part of the Church Community, e tried but we never really hung out with other Catholic families. We did go to the Labor Day picnic every year and had a ton of fried chicken and pie. Basically, I never really got it. As I grew up, I always felt Christian, but a lot of my beliefs differed from the Catholic religion. Due to these differences I fell out of going to church. I tried to find a new church but nothing ever suck.

When I met my husband we were far from spiritual nor religious, but over time and with the loss of life, we both felt we needed a place to go for our family. My husband drove us in this direction more than me, but I was willing to go and embrace this new journey.

Honestly, I am having trouble with church. I love the people and the friends I am making, I just have trouble with the Word and Bible. I also have trouble with Christians. Not so much at our church but there are so many Christians out there that speak one thing and then do the opposite or mask behind religion.

I feel I am lost in the whole religion aspect of life. I am desperately trying to find my way. I have gone to many of the church events. I started Bible Study on How to Shape a Christian Woman. Most of the topics are hard for me. I feel rebellious to them. Not accepting and generally dismissive of the study. I feel bad about this but at this time I am still having trouble believing.

I do not take communion. I do not want to until I can completely embrace the church and teachings. I do not want to be fake or do it because that is what I am suppose to do. I do keep going, listening and I am keeping and open mind. Our pastor and his wife, who teaches the woman’s bible study are both real, funny and true Christians. I know I am in the right place to make my growth in the Christian community.

All I know is there is a God and Heavens. There is a Devil and Hell. I have a wonderful and close relationship with the God I know. I talk to Him often and I know He is there to guide me and keep me safe. I do accept Him as my Lord and Savior. I trust in Him and surrender my life to Him. I do believe He will come again. Everything else that I am working on.

My goal is to grow my life as a true Christian woman, embrace the structure of the church, to help spread God’s word and to build a Christian family for my Family.

Keep Calm and Practice Self Care

It has taken me a while to learn this but when I take care of myself I am happier to take care of others.

Once again, I am not getting to my blog until late, but that is because I was able to partake in some self care today. Not much but oh what a long shower can do for the soul.

My son has been on fire today. Now that he is four months I am starting to put him on a sleeping schedule and in his crib. My son was six weeks early so we spent the first month of life in the NICU and hooked up to machines, so when he came home in December I started to co sleep with him. I was worried but also I felt I missed that first month of cuddles with him. Now that we know he is doing great, we have decided to wean him by six months, so I have started the task of breaking our habits. It’s weird I already miss him.

With that said, today was very difficult day one. He can feel we are changing him routine so he is extra aware and crabby. Instead of holding him nap or putting him in his Ergo Baby, I feed him, rocked him and put him in his crib. I am actually proud because today he did two 30 minute naps in his crib, but as you know that is not enough for a new baby.

By 4:30 pm I was over it and handed my screaming baby to my husband, who tried to calm him down while I took a 30 minute shower. Yes, I have a new baby and I cranked the music, put on a mask, plucked my eye brows, brushed and flossed my teeth and took an extra long shower, where I was even able to deep condition my hair. I put lotion on, brushed and dried my hair, sat on the toilet just to meditate for a minute, breath and remember how much I love my family.

I opened the bathroom door and was greeted with a screaming child. I threw my dirty clothes in the hamper, thanked my husband and took our son from him. With a huge smile on my face I kissed him and started walking and bouncing him to calm him down. He eventually settled. Right now, four hours later he is back with his dad, fighting to go to sleep.

I learned this lesson a couple of years back. Before my husband, kid and dog I worked as an admin. I feel admin is one of the hardest positions because you are everything and paid little. I don’t know, I love it and I am good at admin. I can multi task, remember everything and I majority of the time have a smile on my face.

How did I do it when I had deadlines, people screaming at me and a to do list a mile long. I walked away counted to ten and went outside and smoked a huge joint. Joking. But there were many times, I left went shopping, called my BFF, walked, worked out or took myself out to lunch. I got away, took care of my self, my needs and then returned with the expectation it was going to be a shit show for the rest of the day. I embraced my work because there are many people out there that A. do not have a job, B. are bored at work or C. are not appreciated. I have and love my job, I am never bored and everyone loves and appreciates my hard work.

And all it took was to stop and remember to breath and take care of myself first. With that I have created Spa or Self Saturday. We have to remember to have mommy time weekly. Even if it is just a 30 minute shower.

Thank You to my husband for taking the little guy off my hands for a bit. I appreciate the long hot shower and mommy time.

Keegan is the Best Dog

For Facebook and Twitter I tried to create a daily theme. I am not set on what I have chosen, but for Friday I am going with Fido Friday. Pets need to be healthy too. So every Friday I would like to post or blog about our Health Pets. However, today I would like to blog about my inspiration and the BEST doggy in the world, our Keegan.

Friday is almost over and I am just getting to this. It was a busy day but Keegan was the focus for the day. Due to the new baby, Keegan has not been as spoiled as he use to be. Keegan is our first son. When I met my husband he was five and this year he will be turning eleven. Since I know my days are limited with him, I do my best to included him in as much as I can.

Today was no exception. I met my dad for lunch and a walk around the lake close to where I use to work. Many times before work my dad, Keegan and I would meet up for a quick walk before a full day of work (yes Keegan spent many days at work with me). Keegan has never been good on a leash with me so many times he is in voice command and runs off leash. Keegan loves water. Some days he would not listen and go swimming. No one wants to smell a wet dog at work, so I would be make a trip back home to drop him off. Thank God I live right down the street.

It was funny because today dad and I were chatting about this one time it was hot and Keegan could not find any water so he found a small mud puddle to sit in it. He rolled around until his entire body was covered in wet mud. He looked at me and I know he was thinking “sorry mom but now I am cool.”

Today I knew it was going to be a lot of work but with baby, stroller, blanket, diaper bag and ice tea, we took Keegan for a walk and swim. Thank God for dad, he helped a ton. It was a gorgeous hot day for March and with the sun beating down on us, I had half a mind to join Keegan in the cool lake.

Today Keegan tried to catch the ducks and ran through a field of geese. He found no less than five sticks. He got a little stuck in some branches and walked most of the way back in the near by stream. The best is when he runs and runs, care free with his ears blowing in the wind. I can’t help but smile because he is the happiest dog.

When we got home it was bath time and then he crashed for about ten minutes before my husband encouraged him to go outside and help him with yard work. He followed him around like a little puppy dog until he could not take it anymore and passed out in the shade under our tree.

Once again Keegan you made my day and know I love you.