HAPPY NEW YEAR....

So long 2012 it is extremely hard to believe how quickly you passed us by but thanks for all the great memories you have left us with.  

Welcome 2013...you are only a few hours old but so far I have no complaints! We had a very low key New Year's Eve in our house. The kids were exhausted after a day of playing and no afternoon nap so they were in bed by 6:45 p.m. Doyle and I ordered pizza and had some wine and champagne before packing it in well before midnight EST! We've never really been huge new year's revellers so this was actually the perfect way to spend the night. 

Our low key evening has turned into a low key day with one exception...a visit from Doyle's brother Doug and his kids Norah and Luke. Charlotte and Jacob loved playing with their cousins. Unfortunately Lisa wasn't able to join them because she was flying back from Halifax - we hope to catch up with her at the next visit. The kids didn't nap again this afternoon due to a late morning snooze they had during their "run" with Doyle so they fell asleep at 6:45 p.m. again tonight. I just hope they stay that way but I won't hold my breath - ever since we removed the front bar from their cribs they no longer sleep through the night and tend to wander into our room at various times thanks to their new found freedom. It means a very disrupted sleep for all of us. Here's hoping 2013 will see them revert back to being better overnight sleepers.

I've never been one to make resolutions, I find them too easy to break, but this year I've decided that it's time to focus on me more. I should probably clarify the "focus on me more" statement so anyone reading this doesn't think I'm conceited! What I mean is it's time for me to embark on a very important journey...one that will take dedication on my part and be a struggle at times but in the end, if all goes well, will see me 20 lbs lighter than I currently am. 

I never made losing the weight I gained from being pregnant with Charlotte and Jacob a priority and that certainly didn't help when I learned 13.5 short months after having them that I was pregnant again! Although I have lost the weight I gained during my pregnancy with Oliver (I'm not sure how because I haven't done anything to target it) I haven't lost the weight I should have following my first pregnancy. I stepped on the scale this morning, because every good journey needs a starting point, and it said 180. As we all know "scales don't lie" so that's my starting point whether I like it or not. 

My first focus is cutting out alcohol for the month of January. Luckily Doyle has the same focus so there won't be any temptation there. My next focus will be on portion control and finally I will engage in some form of exercise (at least a 30 minute walk) everyday. As I said this journey will take dedication on my part (especially around portion control) but I'm ready. I encourage all of you reading this to hold me to it as well. Don't hesitate to check in from time to time to make sure I'm still on track! I of course will update my progress on here too so stay tuned.

I don't have a specific timeline for this journey to "end". In a way it shouldn't ever end because there will be some form of maintenance involved, but I would like to see significant progress made by the time I return to work on Aug 6. 

I welcome this challenge and look forward to what lies ahead no matter how many bumps I may face along the way!