Weekly Weigh-In

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.

-Horace, Satires

(you see what I'm doing, there?) It was a good weigh-in, and it's encouraging to see my hard work pay off. Last week my average distance traveled on a bike was 7.01 miles per day, but that was bolstered by a few long rides peppered with several short ones. This week, however, I worked on getting more distance in on a regular basis. My average increased to 9.8 miles per day, with only one day below 5 miles. My caloric deficit also increased from a 414 average to 598, thanks to healthy food choices and a great deal of exercise.

2.2 lbs lost, 68.63 miles biked, 1.5 miles walked - definitely a good week!

05.17.2010 Starting Weight: 171.8 lbs
This Week's Weigh-In: 167.6 lbs (-2.2)
Variance to Goal Weight: 22.6 lbs
Total Weight Lost: 4.2 lbs

Four Years

We are all a little weird and life's a little weird; when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love. (Author Unknown)

Happy 4th Anniversary to my beautiful wife - here's to many more years of weirdness.

But seriously, thank you for the last 10 years of our relationship and 4 years of marriage. You are an amazing woman and I don't know how any one person could be so perfect. I love you.

Wedding Fun

We attended Sam's wedding back in May and Megan was the Maid of Honor. The wedding was at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch, which we'd never been to before. It's a beautiful venue, with lovely views. We decided to spend Saturday night out there, thinking it would be easier for feeding baby and getting ready (which it was). This was Max's first night away from home!

Here was our room, number 9, and I dare say one of the larger rooms. We told them it was only the two of us and a baby, but we got a room with a queen bed, two doubles and a crib. The room has two fireplaces and a fridge, but no TV. It's a dude ranch, dude. No TVs.

I just love the first picture. That poor kid, he's gonna resent us when he's older, haha.

We got there early so we could explore the ranch a little. It was a hot day, but we wandered around for a little over an hour.

We didn't plan very well, as far as timing and baby go. Max didn't get an afternoon nap and when wedding time came around we were pressed for time to get ready. It put both Jeff and I on edge, but it's just one of those things we have to learn to do now that we're parents! We'll get the hang of it...hopefully!

Sam and Brett's ceremony was beautiful. Poor Jeff had to bounce the baby in the back the whole time though.

The reception was fun, I really enjoyed the DJ. Other than the beautiful bride, it was the cake that stole the show:

It was young and cute, just like the newly married couple. On the second tier there's writing, things like:

forever, hope, trust,

happily ever after, and best friends.

We adore Brett and Sam. We're so happy we got to celebrate their big day with them!

This Moment

Max has started holding his toys, without it being just a reflex! He loves to suck on his blankets also. He's very good at sticking things in his mouth!

Weekly Weigh-In

It's going to be a long road, but I'm on a good restart of my weight loss regimen. Brett and Samantha's Wedding festivities didn't help me much, but I still got my hungover self on the bike the next morning for a good 11-mile ride.  I didn't drive to work at all this week - 54.1 miles biked, 2.56 walked.

05.17.2010 Starting Weight: 171.8 lbs
05.24.2010 Weigh-In: 169.8 lbs (-2.0)
Variance to Goal Weight: 24.8 lbs

This Moment

Max likes to pretend he's Superman!

My sister, the college graduate

My baby sister Megan graduated this past weekend from the University of Arizona with a degree in nursing.

And I say baby just cause she's younger. She's never really been a baby to me. When we were kids she was the pest that followed me around (I may have tied her to the hand rail on the stairs once). As we got older, she was the ever constant playmate. And now that we're adults, she's the best friend I've ever had. Growing up my mom always said "your sister will be your best friend" and I just rolled my eyes and went on about how annoying she was. But of course, moms are always right.

She worked really hard to get through nursing school and we're all so proud. I know I never could do it! Some day you may have Megan as your nurse, and I know you'll be in good hands.

May 15th

Today marks the day that Jeffry and I started dating, 10 years ago. We have never stopped laughing and for that I am most grateful. Thank you Jeffry, for making our lives fun.

This Moment

So proud of my baby sister!

First Mother's Day

Happy first mother's day, babe - you are amazing.

This Moment

I love the composition of this picture that Jeffry took, but more so, I love that my dog is almost back to normal. He's been having some health issues since November and has not been himself. Thanks to his new meds, he is back to being playful and not skittish and lethargic. I wish I could say Elway is all better, but he has bad days- like today. Yesterday he was more playful than I've seen him in weeks, doing laps in the backyard and playing with his new toy. Today he won't get off his bed and cowers when I come near him. Hopefully he'll feel better as the day goes on. But I just have to look at this picture and know that my Elway puppy is still in there somewhere, he just needs some down time right now.

Don't boycott Arizona

'Apache Trail', by Chaval Brasil on Flickr

An article that expresses approximately how I have been feeling about this immigration debacle:

On the heels of all this comes Arizona's latest bout of insanity, a law requiring authorities to determine the legal status of anyone suspected of being undocumented. As a thinking person, I'm appalled by the law and the dark, chaotic forest I fear it's planted. But as an Arizonan, I'm just as taken aback by the national response to its passage...

...From the New York Times to Raúl Grijalva, a Democratic congressman from Tucson, it seems that every liberal with a slight platform (and Shakira) is asking Americans to stop buying Arizonan goods, and to not travel there. The assumption is that what worked for MLK Day will work now.

But a boycott is exactly the opposite of what Arizona needs, at least in the long-term.

I've tried hard, to no avail, to think of any time in which calling a destitute population stupid and making it even poorer has effectively engendered in its people new ways of thinking. Indeed, a boycott might force Arizona legislators to overturn their new law–which 70 percent of voters supported, by the way–but I think it's likelier to just frustrate and further impoverish a whole lot of people who are already frustrated, broke, mad, jealous and increasingly worried that the East Coast is out to tell them how to live their lives. I'm not saying I have the key to unlock the Arizona of my dreams, but I can't believe the answer is calling its citizens unwashed meth-heads, canceling your reservations at its resorts (which employ illegal immigrants), or sapping even more money from its public schools (which educate illegal immigrants).

What's more, I wonder what good it is to commit one's progressive self to not visiting Arizona from now on. If this new immigration law is proof of anything, it's that more rational people are needed within Arizona's borders, regardless of their purpose or destination. In fact, if you really want to change Arizona, move there. Houses are damn cheap.

Cord Jefferson (via Kendall)

My Grumpy Gus

I would describe Max as a difficult baby. This isn't a bad or negative thing. It isn't really even a label. It just helps me understand how to comfort him.

Unlike easy babies, difficult babies cannot soothe themselves. So with this information in hand, I know that letting Max just "cry it out" or "calm himself down" isn't going to work. If I were to let him continue crying when he's just a little upset, he would work himself up until he is beyond consolation. I've learned to watch for his little warning signs that he's getting upset, so I can calm him before he even starts crying. I think if anything, the fact that Max is sometimes difficult, has made me that more aware of him and therefore, more attentive. I generally cannot leave him lying somewhere contently, because he might get upset and need assistance in calming down. I savor my time with him when he's calm, but I am also prideful when I can calm him down quickly by reading his cues. I feel like his temperament is helping me become a better parent. I feel that if I can handle his three hour screaming fits, I'll be well adept to handle the terrible two tantrums, the talking back in the pre-teens, and teenage withdrawal.

Luckily, Max seems to be growing out of his fussiness (which they say peaks at 6 weeks, and he's now 7 weeks). He really is a joy, even when he's a grump. I wouldn't change his temperament if I could. It's part of who he is, and it's now part of who I am as a parent.