my body and what i put in it

let me start with this disclaimer. 

this is in no way a comprehensive summary of my relationship with my body and with food.

it is only a glimpse into my current relationship status with my body and with food.

(and i tell you about why i love Advocare and how you can too)

ok. fair?

when i met GT, i weighed....ha, ha, ha.

 you thought i'd tell you. that's cute.

anyway. 

when i met GT, i was above a healthy weight for my body.

i was living in Dallas. hitting up the chips and queso on the regular.

i was "healthy" and "big boned" as my brothers referred to me at one point.

and after working night shift for a year with pizza and and chocolate pudding as my "lunch" (1am)...my body was not in a great place.

i worked out and actually completed a half-marathon, but i was not putting healthy food into my body on any kind of consistent basis.

when we started dating, we did what couples did.

we went out to eat. 

and i would order whatever i wanted, while he always ordered the healthiest thing on the menu.

i.e. Chick-fil-a

Kate, "i'll take a #5, 8-count with a DDP"

GT, "i'll take a grilled chicken wrap, no dressing and a water"

he never talked about it, but would just go about his business

running 2 miles every morning and eating healthy.

i thought his routine was a bit mundane and his eating boring, but more power to him.

once i asked him about it, he explained why he made the choices that he did.

in short, he made a conscious decision that this would be his lifestyle.

he wanted to be healthy for life.

not just lose a bunch of weight and accomplish a short-term goal.

he felt better day-in and day-out when he exercised and made good food choices.

soon, i started ordering like he did and making healthier choices.

i dropped 13 pounds in a few months.

what?!?

just because i made healthier eating choices

let's press on to the present day....i could talk forever and ever about this.

i still consistently make the more unhealthy choice

GT always eats better than i do.

always.

and i'd say that he functions at a much higher level than i do because of that.

i want to be and eat healthy

i want my kids to eat healthy

what we eat has a direct impact on every function of our body.

so, why not eat what our bodies need?

i don't know. because m&m's are so dang good.

a few years ago, we started using Advocare products.

i liked them, GT liked them.

we still use them.

We have done the 24-day challenge...except i haven't ever done it with all of the supplements since i've been pregnant or nursing for 3 years.

but, we have always been happy with the results and it has spurred us on to better choices after we complete the challenge.

i am in no way, shape or form a proponent of using a specific type of supplement or product.

what i do promote is making the best choice for your body and adopting a healthy lifestyle.

and if that means using a program to help...then by all means...use it!

that's what we do.

and i will tell you about one product that i just started using and i LOVE it

love it so much

i like to drink a cup of coffee every afternoon

but, with the warmer weather approaching i don't always want a hot drink

so, i ordered this Coffeccino. i mixed it with ice and water. 

oh man...it was good.

and after a few hours i realized that i never got that hankering for an afternoon snack.

now, that's worth my money. ya heard?

i will be ordering more very soon.

3 of my family members are currently doing the challenge.

perhaps i'll share their results with you...if they care to share.

if you're local and want to do the challenge, i have one at my house waiting for you!

anyway...if you want to know more about what Advocare has to offer, click here

and if you want to order anything for yourself, click here

one more. my little coach, Shari, is awesome...here is a link to her facebook page... lots of great food plans and tips 

ok, i'm done. except probably not.

i'll probably share more as i travel along on this healthy lifestyle journey

happy Tuesday friends!

Easter things

We spent Easter weekend with the Taylor fam in Huntsville and had a grand ole time!

All of the kiddos were there (which doesn't happen that often) and we soaked up each second of being together. 

Sunday morning, we gave the boys little Easter baskets

Townes enjoyed his ball for roughly 2 minutes, until it rolled under something

and Judson would've been just fine with suckers. 

ah, well.

let's move on to more photos, shall we?

excuse me, grandpa? did your mother forget your belt? and your pants that actually fit?

sure i'll give you a cracker so you'll sit still for a picture

ready, cheerleader Judson?

this Gracie girl...she is the sweetest!!!!

choke-holds are for brothers

eh, we'll try again next year

now, Grammy's Easter baskets

that's how you do it...they were crowd pleasers.

i'm taking notes

the whole she-bang

goodness, i love these folks

---

the boys were part of 2 egg-hunts prior to actual Easter weekend

the first was at Camp Ch-Yo-Ca and was put on by our church

it was huge and there were at least 4 thousand kids.

the crew that put it together did an awesome job an we all loved it!

Judson was slightly overwhelmed and was way more interested in playing at camp than hunting eggs.

and selfies with Honey

and minutes of entertainment for Townes, courtesy of 100 dirty eggs

brothers for the win!

Mamaw Lou is the best!

our neighbors came with us and we loved being with them (as you can tell by Judson face)

seriously, we really did

of course, everything is better when Bob and 2-mama are there

---

Judson also had an Easter party at his "school"

there are maybe 12 kids total, so it is really laid-back and perfect, actually

all of the kids LOVE when i bring Townes

and Judson is like....

"what's the big deal?"

eggs were a little more interesting when he discovered the candy hidden inside

Jace is Judson BFF at school.

they are quite the pair

Townes was satisfied since he got more eggs to gnaw on

GT arrived a tad late to the party and Judson was ecstatic!

when he drove in the parking lot, you would've thought a celebrity had arrived

and i suppose he did!

even though the boys weren't too interested in all the hoop-la of egg hunting, they enjoyed being with their family and their friends (and the candy).

We want them to know that they are loved and that we love to share in these fun events.

just as they don't understand or care about easter egg hunts, they can not comprehend the beauty of the resurrection of Jesus.

but not for lack of hearing about it.

i'm so thankful they will be constantly surrounded by family and friends that love the Lord and that will help us teach them about the good news of Jesus Christ, his death and his resurrection.

i am positive there is nothing more beautiful than that.

when lizards attack

i hate snakes.

wait, i thought this was a post about lizards?!?

hold on...i'm getting there.

i know you're all on the edge of your seats

i hate snakes.

my fear is out of control and completely irrational. i know this.

but, it's there and i hate them.

now, lizards.

i don't mind them as much.

but they are just tiny snakes with legs

and are equally sneaky and quiet.

but, i don't run in fear of them. 

we have a new deck on the back of our house.

and lizards have made it their home.

when we play on the deck, i see at least 2 lizards.

i am trying to overcome my fear of all things quiet and slithery so that my children are not like me.

so, when we see a lizard..i'm all, "look at that cool lizard, Judson. Let's go catch it!"

(please run away, lizard!)
"aw man, Judson. that one got away" (hallelujah!)

i'm so tough.

so, yesterday. 

Judson wanted to go on the deck to play.

 Townes needed to go down for a nap.

 i left the back door open so that i could watch/listen for Judson.

after a few minutes, i go outside to check on JR.

turn to walk back inside, and yes... yes a lizard is inside my house, staring at me. 

i am trapped. on the deck.
looking in my home that has been overtaken by this lizard.

of course, i call GT. who was at work and can do nothing to help me, but he needed to know.

"GT, there is a giant reptile in our house!"

GT: "well, get it out" 

well, that would be great, except NO FREAKING WAY.

not happening.

needing to do something besides stare and quiver, i reach for Judson stick horse and start probing at the lizard.

he moves and i overreact slightly.
screaming, dancing, the whole obnoxious nine-yards.

enter Woodrow.

here's a little back story.

Woodrow likes to chase lizards.

he has been chasing this particular lizard (the one that is holding me hostage) for about a week.

we watch the hunt every afternoon.

it's quite entertaining

so, when this ever-elusive lizard is in our house and appears to be paralyzed by the fact...Woodrow zeroes in like a sniper.
he attacks it with ferocity.
it was intense.
i start screaming again.
Woodrow snatches it up in his mouth and i yell at him to get outside.
and he does, because he is awesome.

by this point both of the boys are laughing. like a deep belly laugh.
i'm still on the phone with GT, who is laughing as well.

i'm not laughing.

since that incident, Woodrow has caught and murdered 2 more lizards.

it's disgusting, but awesome.

for a 110 pound lab who was has cancer, that dude is incredibly stealthy and agile.

there are a million reasons why i hope he lives forever, but the number 1 reasons, as of today...

to kill all the lizards.

Townesy 9 months

Roosker doo, you are a big 9 months old!

and we are loving our little 9 month old sweetheart

you are just the sweetest little love bug i've ever known

and i can't even stand to be away from you for more than a minute

you are a full-blown crawler now

and can do a rather impressive down-dog yoga pose

you graduated from the army crawl in the last few weeks and you can scoot

no one is safe from your fast crawl and intense face grabs

Woodrow is less than fascinated by your new developmental milestone achievement

you are exploring so much more

and can pull up to your knees

and seem to be rather proud of this

and have learned how fun it is to get into something not meant for babies

even though you are completely mobile and like to discover new things, you can be intrigued by one thing for quite a while

especially things that are small, like buttons, zippers, etc.

it's just the cutest thing to watch you work with your little fingers

you have had quite a doozy of a week

 you've had a fever, ear infection, runny nose, some nasty diapers and are getting 2 teeth!!! (finally)

but are still the sweetest and smiliest little guy

just in need of some extra holding... and i can do that

your brother is your favorite 

you get so excited when he walks into the room

and would crawl all over him all day if he would sit still and allow you to

you say (or yell), "dadadada" and sometimes i wonder if that's how you call for Judson.

you babble other non-words constantly...just figuring out what that voice of yours can do!

you smile at everyone you see

but always prefer for me to hold you. you're such a little koala bear

my favorite thing that you do is when i am changing your clothes and you are just in your diaper, i'll pick you up and you curl up into a tight little ball and lay your head on my shoulder...your little body is pressed so tight against my chest...oh man, it's the best. 

you'll just stay that way for a little while and let me squeeze you as you smile a sweet smile of contentment. 

if i could freeze you at this age and this size, i would...just for those sweet moments.

you are becoming a little more independent and can entertain yourself for longer periods of time

and tend to always have something in your mouth

you (like most everyone) love to be outside 

we spend many afternoons, after naps, on the swing watching your brother rope or just run wild

since the weather has warmed up, you get to ride in the wagon and seem to like it as long as your brother rides with you.

i didn't realize how often i dress you in blue

but, its apparently every day

i'm afraid this will continue, since your eyes are the most amazing blue 

i didn't know it was possible, but i love you more this month than the last

and more today than yesterday

you just keep getting sweeter, happier and more fun

your smile is incredibly rewarding and you give us unmeasurable joy! 

we love you to pieces little Townes-rooskie

your tender, sensitive heart and joyful, giddy smile have got me. 

a Spring Break break

literally

Judson broke his arm during spring break.

 his spring break is a break from a 5-hour, 2-days-a-week Mothers Day Out.
so, really it just means that he is home for an extra 10 hours this week.

but, it's a break. and it's spring. so...Spring break!
our plans consisted of just kicking it at home with my boys (not a far cry from the usual)

well, it all started with them both having some ugly fever virus.

and sharing sickness germs

it was quite pitiful, actually

Judson started with the fever during church on Sunday

and it continued until Tuesday

Townesy got a fever on Monday and it just broke last night

he also has an ear infection along with the super runny nose and cough

and just this morning i felt his first tooth breaking through

his little body has compensated by him sleeping a crazy amount.

like 3 hour naps and 14 hour night time sleeps (except for when his fever got pretty high and then there was no sleep)... but i think he's on the mend today!

yes, yes...about the break

Judson tripped while running (at full throttle, as always) and braced himself with his hand.

it was obviously hurt. he cried a lot. 

but, he also had a fever, so it was hard to tell if it was because of pain or that he didn't feel well.

unfortunately, it was a combination of the two.

this was Monday evening.

that night was one of little sleep.

Tuesday morning he kept his arm up by his chest and wouldn't hold anything with his right hand.

i took him to his pediatrician who sent us for xrays right away

they called back after lunch to confirm our suspicion, it was fractured

now, while we waited at the doctor and for the xrays, JR was playing with gusto.

happy as can be and running around as usual.

but, he was very protective of his right arm and wouldn't grip anything with that hand.

when we learned that it was broken, i wanted to swell with pride at his toughness and my heart wanted to break at the same time. 

our pediatrician had made us an appointment with orthopedics for Wednesday morning.

they happened to make the appointment with Dr.Graves, one of our friends.

now, isn't that great?

Judson was a trooper through it all.

he never cried at the ortho appointment and did just as he was told, allowing Dr.Graves to examine him

 and to have the splint placed.

and the splint was placed by Amanda, who goes to church with us!...how great is that?!

at first, Dr.Graves said that he needed a cast.

Judson chose the "John Deere green" color. imagine that.

then after they discussed the reality of a 2-year old in a cast, they offered this option

a super, Iron-man-like splint.

yes, please.

when they discussed the possibility of a cast above the elbow, i broke out in a cold sweat and i'm pretty sure hives were crawling up my neck.

luckily, we were able to leave with this bad boy 

of course, he wore his cowboy hat to the appointment

because that's what cowboys do

especially when they're injured

we have convinced him that he needs this "bracelet" to help his arm get better so that he can rope.
he bought it.
fortunately, he ropes left handed anyway so he has not been slowed down AT.ALL.
let me repeat. no slowing down AT. ALL.

hopefully this is the first and last of this caliber of injury for the Taylor boys.
but, the pace at which he does life leads me to believe it is only the beginning.

i think we are mending up today.
the fevers have subsided
Townes is still not feeling well and Judson is learning how to sleep with a brace on his arm.
praying that tonights sleep will bring the rest and rejuvenation that their bodies need.