I swore up and down that I had blogged only a few days ago. Then I checked in to read some blogs and realized that I hadn't blogged in over a week... YIKES. Guess that's what happens when you have nice weather and are too busy preparing meals all the live long day. And yes, that's exactly what I've been doing, BECAUSE...
![Finishing up day 9 of #whole30 ... with none other than Mexican food. This is a taco salad made with romain, roma tomatoes, bell pepper, a mixture of ground turkey and ground beef (seasoned with homemade, compliant taco seasoning), topped with compliant s](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7545/16258847925_b530c5b34a_z.jpg)
I'm over half way thru my first ever whole30!!! I feel good, and I feel like I am finally not addicted to sodas nor do I have a dire need for caffeine anymore. It's a funny cycle-- the caffeine thing. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I was up to close to 40 ounces of iced coffee in the morning and at least a 32 ounce soda in the afternoons. And the funny thing is that I was still SO lethargic. And moody. And cranky and could whip up snark at the drop of a hat. I'm so thankful for everything I have learned over the past 17 days, the most important that I will survive without the need of lots o' caffeine. I've also found that I do indeed have the time to cook. I just have to make the time. And the biggest irony is that Connor, my child who has been giving us a run for our money during meal time, has happily eaten everything I have cooked. Go figure. I'm finally getting used to lots o' lemon and limes in my water (thus the title of this post), but will be honest and say that I do miss a good Mexican food meal with a side of margarita. I'm not sure I could eliminate either of those two things from my diet without being VERY VERY sad.
A lot of people have asked what I will do when I finish w30. Honestly, I'm not really sure. I know that I now know that I can cook for our family and do things from scratch that I had never previously tried to do (like make my own spaghetti sauce, taco seasoning and salad dressing). I never thought I'd be able to give up my beloved drinks, but I've survived without much fuss. And the way I feel is evidence to the fact that you truly are what you eat. So, I'm sure there are changes that will be kept even when I do go back to a more "normal" diet.
Changing subjects quickly, I'd just like to share a key observation my kindergartner made today:
!["Mom, I got a good question.... if it's winter, why is it so warm?" I don't know. But go play while you can. #mboys2015](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8653/16133563450_4bb44f6188_z.jpg)
"If it's winter, why is it so warm?"
I didn't have a great answer, because science has never truly been my "thing" so I just said something like "not sure, but let's go play outside instead of playing Nintendo." That made the resident 5 year old really thrilled, since Mario has basically become the latest obsession and he wants nothing more than to beat Bowsers bad buddies and rescue Princess Peach :/ He did oblige me though, and we have all enjoyed the amazing weather, abnormal or not. I've also realized that I wish I was a meteorologist... they were swearing up and down that we'd be in for it with the snow this year. And while I know that we are not out of the winter woods yet, it's safe to say that being a meteorologist is one of the only jobs that you can be far off the money and still keep your job.
Finally, I think anyone who has ever had a child can console with me when I say that we have very quickly ushered into the terrible twos. Which really, any parent will tell you, is not near as bad as the awful threes. I'm thankful that I have a bit of experience under my belt and can remind myself that this too shall pass and they will return to me a sweet caring boy. Because when I happen to peel an orange wrong before church and all hell breaks loose, momma wanna scream just like baby. And momma don't wanna cheese like baby 2 minutes later.
![He kept crying bc he wanted an orange. So I peeled an orange. Then he kept crying and threw himself on the floor (hello 2 year old tantrums.) #mboys2015](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7490/16308229942_84c3b74562_z.jpg)
Life's rough when you're two...
![....2 minutes after the orange debacle (see last pic).... #mboys2015](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8569/15686728864_b8aa8aa784_z.jpg)
But not so rough that you can't lay on the charm for the camera...
I do think that even though this stage is extremely hard, it's also precious and sweet in its own sorta way. I actually pulled out my big girl camera and snapped some candid every day moments of Tyler the other day that I hope to share soon.
Until then... have a great week!