Stay-at-home-Mom: Day 1

So, as I announced in my last blog...I quit my job. And today, Monday, February 11th, 2013, is the first day of my new life. All day I have thought "so this must be what stay-at-home-Moms do!!" I start thinking about tomorrow and get stressed out, and then remember, oh yeah, I don't have anything to do tomorrow either!!

But the reality of it isn't that I don't have anything to do, its that I have time to do the things I am stressing out about. After busting my butt today, for the first time in ONE MILLION years, I am happy to share with you that the toy room is now clean. WOAH! And I am on my 4th load of laundry. HOLY COW!! The kids are happy and napping/resting after I cooked a delicious lunch...AND cleaned up the mess. NO WAY!! I even packed my husband's lunch before he left for work. UNREAL!! Finally, I have already spent time on my school work - STOP ITS TOO MUCH. Yeah...I guess you could say I am on a roll!!

Technically, I'm not a true stay-at-home Mom. I am now a full-time grad student, and I still have my photography! But even with those things, I will have time to be a Mommy!!

Goals for Week 1 -
1. Clean Stove/Oven.....well and entire kitchen really, but I can't remember the last time I cleaned the oven, which isn't necessary if it isn't getting used!!! Haha! But the stove, it was clean, and now its not again, so I want to really degrease that sucker!!
2. Scrub bathrooms (this was something I always did regularly, no matter how tired or late I was running. I HATE a grimey bathroom.)
3. Complete ALL of the laundry
4. Organize Photography Studio and get all paperwork in line.
5. Attend my sister-in-law's Senior Night festivities.
6. Go to my classes - Do ALL of the reading for each night.
7. Organize my side of the toy room that is just...stuff....clean it out and finish re-organizing the toy room.
8. Take my daughter to school, every day this week!! =)

I'll let you know how I do!!

Clearing my head!!!

Time to blog!! 

I should be studying, but I am currently working on memorizing the RESPECTFUL counseling theory model - which for me, requires repetition. ReligionEconomicsSexualPsychologyEthnicityChronologicalTraumaFamilyUniqueLocation!!! BOOM!!! Did that without looking......don't pretend you aren't impressed....

So...now I can take some time to process some other thoughts!! 

How has everyone been? I have been great!! Probably the greatest I have been in a long time actually...so much has changed since I last shared on my blog and I feel compelled to share our changes with the interwebs worlds!!! I have not had an ounce of time to blog, and you will soon understand why!!!

First piece of big news: Last semester I was accepted to and started graduate school!! I am now in my second semester and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I am in a Masters of Education of Counseling program. I decided to complete both "tracks" within the program, which is almost like getting 2 masters!!! I will come out of the program as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor AND a Licensed School Counselor. I am so excited. I would eventually love to work in a school setting. I am so excited to have found a path that allows me to combine my love for adolescent counseling and teaching! Now, to make it graduation in 2015....only 2 more years!!

Second piece of big news: I am now the owner/operator of eLamb Photography!! A life-long dream of mine has been to be a photographer, and I am lucky enough to have a husband who supports ALL of my dreams - grad school, parenting, and photography!! We recently added an indoor studio to our home, and I love my on-site outdoor sessions that have boosted my business thus far!! It is totally a hobby, which makes it a bonus when I make money!! I love sharing people's memories with them and doing new things! I love editing photos and using photoshop to forge my brain into a sharper tool!!! Getting things perfect on the camera, the lighting, the background, the color can all be challenging but I love every minute of it, which makes me feel so blessed to be able to have this profession in my life!!

So...with two kids, my "day job" as a mental health counselor, my weekend photography business and my evening grad school, things were starting to get a little....well a lot actually, a lot overwhelming. I wanted to do it all, but ultimately I had to prioritize and give something up. At first, photography fell by the wayside, of course, as it is a hobby and a non-career related means of income. However, the small amount of time I was given back from photography did not allow me enough to make up for the laundry piling up, the studying needing done, the children needing one-on-one time, the house chores getting behind and the importance of maintaining my marriage. I started feeling pretty low most of the time. I noticed myself getting extremely short, especially with Libby, my 4 year old. It wasn't fair to anyone. So, rather than make everyone suffer any longer, I turned to prayer. My husband and I had many long talks, and God kept pointing me in the same direction. 

As of this Friday, I will no longer be a mental health counselor. After making the decision to quit my job, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I have always believed in the stay-at-home-mom and have an incredible respect for those women who give up other dreams to dedicate their lives to raising their children. And I do not just believe in this lifestyle, but I have always felt that stay-at-home-moms who are fully invested in their children are key to a better future for not just the family and children, but for the communities and country. So, I decided, with the support from those closest in my life, to become a stay-at-home-Mom!! Another dream that my husband has made possible for me!! I cannot wait! I will be able to graduate sooner, give my children 100% and continue photography for the extra income. I feel so blessed. Prayer never fails!! REMEMBER THAT FOLKS!!

So, as we enter into this next chapter in our lives as the LambFam, I am so excited to be the Mom I have always wanted to be. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of being a good Mommy. God has blessed me with 2 amazing children (so far hehe) and I owe them this. I want to support their strengths and be the one who taxis them around, feeds them, cleans them, rubs their tummies and fixes their boo-boos. I can't wait to start being a full-time Mom!!! 

Thanks for stopping by and reading my thoughts and feelings!! If you interested in photography I will add some links to some of my favorite sites, as well as my own websites!! Dreams come true through God, every time. And try to remember, we only remember about 5% of the dreams we have while sleeping, so when things go differently than you planned, God might be fulfilling one of the dreams you don't remember!! =) Enjoy the surprises!!  

www.elambphotography.zenfolio.com
www.facebook.com/elambphotography
www.ashedesigns.com 
www.thecoffeeshopblog.com

My feelings tonight. Update 7-2012

I had a bit of a stressful weekend. I hate it when I project my feelings onto others and my family suffers. I "let him cry, he'll be fine" instead of holding my baby or I "pick out a movie and watch it" instead of playing with my sweet sweet girl! I know we all need a break sometimes but after watching The Help with my husband and laughing together, I feel better and can see whats important, instead of just stressful. Goal for the week = spend as much time with my two littles, focused on them. Then, we will be on vacation with all 3 kids for a week and it will be a great time to refocus on my family! Praying to God for the strength to succeed as a mommy, a counselor, a wife, a daughter, a sister(and inlaw), a now a student too over these next few months!! I am so blessed and should not forget that for even a minute!

MY BLOG!!!!

It's back. It was only hiding. No more hide and seek Mr. Blogger, I have big plans for you ;-) I am going to start another blog attached to this one - Title options: ME, ME, ME or More Me, Less Other or Inside of my Head or My Burrow.

This new blog is intended to focus more on...here comes the surprise....Me!! Since the title of my first blog is "The Lamb Family" I decided it should be more about the kids, and I should create a new one, and keep this one PG. =) Happy Blogging!!! Monday found me so no time to dilly dally! And guess what's for breakfast?? You guessed it....cookies.

Super Bowel

Spent all morning making a million cookies only to decide I dont like the recipe. Boooo. Then, I put on my sexiest pink robe, which isnt sexy, and approached my husband with some bedroom eyes. I was informed that he was napping and had a "tummy ache." Im having country music flashbacks - did I seriously just shave my armpits for this?? Oh well, jokes on him, I used his razor. Again. So now the kiddies are all napping, husband is snoring on the couch, cookies are sitting on the kitchen table calling my name (which is double depressing because as I admitted, I dont even like them) and Im alone in bed thinking I should get ready for our big date night with friends. They have invited us over for a super bowl party. I like the commercials and half time show, but lets be honest - Ill eat too much food then go on pretending I didnt start a blog to tell people about my intended weight loss routine. NEWS FLASH: I havent lost any weight....ugh. I am having one of those dumpy days. When did being an adult become soooo exilerating?

Wait. Wait. Losing Weight takes a lot of Wait.

Yesterday, January 3rd, 2012, I started using Shakeology. I have used the supplemental drink once before, but like most diets, I had a hard time sticking to it. Too many people offering to go out to eat during our lunch break, or just plain craving "real food" over a cold, sweet, foamy drink caused me to give up on the shake. I couldn't deny noticing a different with it however. So, with two lonely bags of mix still sitting in my cabinets, I decided to start it again. This time, I am continually motivating myself with reading, research, challenges from my coach, Erin Darnell and simply looking in the dreaded mirror!!! EEK! After Baby Jack was born (my second pregnancy) I was just sure breast-feeding would cure my "weight problem" - I should have known better. Breast-feeding is a wonderful thing, but I have the eating habits of a full grown woolly mammoth. I am aware of my inability to control my eating, yet continue to shovel the food in. SO on January 1st I took snacks away from myself. I am allowed breakfast, lunch and dinner. After dinner I am allowed a dessert. On January 3rd I did away with lunch, and added my replacement shake. However, with a shake, it is recommended to have healthy snacks in between meals - but no junk food, and it can't be CONSTANT SNACKING!!


After two days of this HUGE cut back, I already want to see results. Sooo instead of waiting to see my pant size change or my double....triple....chin shrink up, I'm going to weigh myself daily on the scales at work and post my weight. Taking the numbers public 'aught to be motivating enough to keep up my Shakes!! I love Shakeology. It honestly does taste good, and with an entire meal in a shake, how can you deny the benefits to your body. www.shakeology.com tells you all about the dozens of vitamins and nutrients that are in it. I'm in this for my children, I am using them as my main motivation. SOOO I will continue to update this specific post with my weight loss, dietary progress and challenges. And I change my lifestyle, I am going to continue improving and adding new goals. New Years Day shouldn't be the only day of the year one attempts to improve. 


1-3-2012 - weight: 171 lbs - Shake for lunch + No snacking.
1-4-2012 - weight: 170 lbs - (probably the difference in my shoes from yesterday) Shake for Lunch + small snack.
 NEW GOAL: No TV until after Libby is in bed. Focus should be on her development and our bond. Jack and I bond through breastfeeding and interaction while he is awake. TV time for Mommy can be between Libby's bedtime and my own!

2012!

Everyone says next year is going to be different. However, I really feel that it will be different for several reasons. 

One - I will NOT be having another baby .

Two - Jack is here now, so we have three littles total and that makes things even MORE exciting!! Especially with Libby growing up so fast!! She is little Miss Independent. Polite, but quite bold and thinks she is in-charge! I can't wait to watch Jack grow over this next year!! 

I have some personal goals for the future, and since it is the last day of 2011, I might as well follow the mainstream and say "I have New Year's Resolution" but really, they are just desires. 

1) I want to read more. I honestly don't know when I'd have time to do that - what with a full time job, two kids and a husband who works 2nd. BUT I see all of these people recommending books and bragging about their Kindles, Nooks, iPads....and it makes me wish I was a reader!! It's tough though, I'm still stuck on Harry Potter - I may just try to read through the series again haha. That would be what, 12 times? I've lost count.

2) READY FOR A SHOCKER!!! I want to lose weight. Tonight, as I wait for the New Year - or more like bedtime haha, I'll snore in the new year this time - I am pigging out on swiss rolls, chips and dip and fruity pebbles lol This is because tomorrow I start my "no unhealthy snacking" resolution, my Shakeology again and my new exercise program. It's not that I want to be a super model, though don't be surprised when I start getting offers. I really just want to be healthy for my kids...be active and keep up with them and live a healthy life for them - so I can be right there with them for years to come!! I can't wait to cheer them on - I'm a front row kind of Mommy, this I'm sure. 

3) Libby will be starting school, I just haven't decided when and where. The idea of her being in school is bittersweet. She loves going to Cindy's and I think she learns so much there, but it's important for her to be around more children and learn things early. They are so receptive at this age. She can play games on the computer already, I can't believe the things she can just pick up and learn. She can write her name, she knows every letter in the alphabet and most of the numbers between 1-10 by sight recognition. She can count to 20 and recognize objects in groups of 2, 3 and 4 by sight. She makes me so proud =) So I have to choose a good preschool for her. I was originally thinking BCA, but now I'm thinking Open Arms. That way if we move, she already has friends there!

Stand by for more goals - but for now- here's to a new year and exciting developments in the Lamb Fam!