6 Month Update

Sorry for the lack of posting lately! Things have been a little hectic, to say the least. We were busy moving & getting settled in to our new place. And our church also recently moved locations so hubs was busy helping with that. Then he and my brothers headed off to camp, and I went out with a friend for a day to visit. We’ve also been busy trying to get my brothers enrolled in school and figuring that all out. AND I’ve been working on getting things together for the launch of our Cahootsie site and working on building my portfolio for a little photography business on the side. WHEW! All while trying to have fun and enjoy what’s left of summer!

Aside from all of that, my sweet little Eveleigh is now 6 months old! I can’t believe it. She has grown and developed so much these last few months. She sits up on her own, she got her first tooth (!), she’s (slowly) learning to eat solids, she’s engaging and playing so much, and has become so curious about everything! She loves the pool & going to the beach. She loves to be around people and interact with them (I think she is going to be a little social butterfly). She is my smiley, happy baby and I sure feel blessed to be her mama.

Firsts

Last weekend we went to our sweet little friend’s second birthday party! It was a fun little fiesta at a nearby park, and Eveleigh went on the swings for the first time! As you can see by the photos, she absolutely loved it!

She’s had so many “firsts” lately. She started sitting up on her own, she started solids (just mashed banana for now), and she learned how to blow raspberries and has been doing it all day long! It is so cute.

I can’t believe how big she is. I feel like this year is flying by. And every month she is developing and changing so much! I love each new stage but I also just kind of want her to stay my little baby forever!

Moving Right Along.

^{Unrelated to this post, but too cute not to share!}

So life has been a little bit hectic lately. For reasons I cannot really get into, my younger (fifteen year old) twin brothers are coming to live with Ryan and me. We feel confidant it’s the direction God is leading us, and are trusting his plan for it all. This has led to us needing to move into a bigger place, and so this last week we have been busy packing and moving!

If I’m honest: I did not want to move. It’s expensive and exhausting. And I liked our old place. I felt really settled there and kind of grew an attachment to it. It was our home. And it was where we brought home our first baby. I really thought we would live there for several years, until we could maybe buy our own place. But then the move happened, and it all sort of happened fast. It was a little overwhelming.

But our new place is great! The neighborhood is really nice, and there are shops, restaurants, and parks within walking distance. AND WE HAVE A GARAGE! I’ve never had a garage before. And let me tell you, it is a game changer. Where did I keep all of my crap before?! I have no idea. But I am in storage heaven.

Still lots to do and lots to unpack. But I know as we get settled it will feel more and more like home. Feeling very grateful. Just trying to continue to trust in Him.

Eveleigh's 5 Month Pictures

Our sweet little Eveleigh turned 5 months old a little over a week ago. Can’t believe it! She is getting so so big! She is in the 83rd percentile for weight, and 95th for height. She’s a little chunker for sure. Love her little leg rolls. They melt me.

It’s been a little busy around these parts so hadn’t taken out the nice camera for pictures in a little bit. So the other day I finally made time to snap these pictures of her. I just love this age. She is so smiley and sweet and loves to interact!

We Survived Whole 30!

^^Pulled Pork Sliders on Sweet Potato Buns! Absolutely amazing. Pulled pork recipe here. For the buns, cut a thick sweet potato in ¼ inch slices, drizzle with olive, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika; roast on baking pan for 30-40 minutes at 425.^^

So, we made it!! We survived our first Whole 30! Monday we finished our 30th day of super clean eating – no processed foods at all! No sugar, dairy, bread, legumes, and alcohol. While at first we felt really limited, we discovered there are so many healthy & delicious recipes, and we really didn’t feel too deprived! It just requires great planning and being intentional about your meals and your grocery shopping.

The pictures are some of the foods & meals that helped get us through. So many yummy options! Pinterest & instagram were definitely great for meal planning & inspiration.

While we did not do it for weight loss, we both lost several pounds and are feeling great! It’s a great way to kickstart healthy eating and really just hit the reset button. Feeling more energized and definitely eating more purposefully.

The hardest part for me was not having any dessert of any kind. Not even “healthy” versions of dessert. I never realized just how bad my dessert cravings are! While on Whole 30 I literally had dreams of brownies & cookies & ice cream. The first week was definitely the hardest, but it did get easier. The cravings never really went away… but they feel more manageable. Another challenging part was how much money we spent on groceries. Wow. It’s definitely mind boggling. BUT we ate out A LOT less and had three awesome & wholesome meals a day.

Of course, now that it’s over it’s not just going to be back to junk. We’re switching to Paleo 80/20. It’s very similar, just a little less strict. So more maintainable on a long term basis.

Cheers to being healthy!

^^Simple Lettuce Wraps. Brown ground turkey over medium heat, then add in broccoli slaw, cilantro, and green onion. Top with fresh squeezed lime. Service with Iceberg lettuce pieces to make little wraps.^^

^^The breakfast of champions! Cut an avocado in half and make the seed hole slightly larger and crack an egg into it. Top with salt & pepper and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until the egg is cooked through. Serve with Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausage (one of our Whole 30 staples!) and fruit.^^

^^Chicken wings marinated in Frank’s Red Hot and grilled low & slow for a nice charred outer skin. Serve with grilled zucchini & squash.^^

^^A favorite lunch of mine. Mix a 12.5 oz can of chicken (or tuna) with ½ an avocado and mash together. Add in walnuts, sliced grapes, and salt & pepper and mix well. Serve on sliced cucumber to make little sliders.^^