Oh, Hello

I have not abandoned Corner of Joy!

I have received some concerned comments from you all wondering where I am, and I am still here. But this blog has had to take a bit of a break for a few reasons.

One of the reasons is that I really needed some time to get me and my home in order. Sometimes something's got to give, and this time it was my blog. I hope you all forgive me for that.

Another reason is because a few things have happened recently that would require some explaining on my part, and I honestly wanted to wait to see how things played out before coming to you all with explanations (see this coming Thursday's post for more on this. Nothing like suspense!).

In the meantime, let me tell you what is going on here.

First of all, this little girl

 Miss Victoria is 11 months old already, and she has changed so much in the last few months. She learned to crawl in February and the very next day learned how to pull up and walk around the furniture. She is still not quite walking yet, but I think it's more about her just being way too busy to take the time to figure it out!

In fact, it is a miracle I got her to sit still long enough to take this photo. She is 33" long, which keeps her in the 100th percentile for her age. She's going to be tall like her mama!

 

W--e are also teaching her the importance of sitting still and having self-control. So we began blanket training last month and are working on her sitting quietly and playing on her blanket for increasing amounts of time. 

 

 She is still nursing but also loves solid food of any variety. I usually give her whatever is on my plate. My mom thinks it is hilarious that my baby loves chinese food and kielbasa with peppers and onions.

She is such a smiley little girl and loves playing in "her" cabinet in our kitchen (filled with all manner of unbreakable things)

 

Other big news is that we are moving (more about that in another post). We have a little over a month to go before the big day, but I am already packing with a quota of 2 boxes per day. I am hoping to approach the day prepared and not frantic.

 And of course, my sidekick is a great helper (when she isn't unpacking everything I pack)

My fitness goals are still coming along and I am so happy to say that I am more fit (fitter?) that I have been in years. Which gives me this beautiful after workout "glow" (aka red face and sweat)

I just completed a 6 week Les Mills Grit class and it was seriously a life changer. I can now do upwards of 50 regular on-my-toe pushups, dozens of lunges and squats, my abs are back, and I have endurance like I haven't had in years.

The Grit class cost money and my husband was on board with it, but now I am back to doing it the "free" way, which means I'm back at my Les Mills Body Pump class, while also doing Les Mills Body Combat videos at home. I weigh 2 pounds more than I did when I got pregnant and 8 pounds more than I was when we got married, but mostly that is my diet's fault. I am really enjoying ice cream lately! Plus I have lots more muscle and that weighs more. and I'm still nursing.

Are those enough excuses? 

Easter allowed us to get this beautiful family photo at our friends' home.

I made a simple Easter basket for Victoria and gave it to her on the Saturday before Easter, which was the tradition I grew up with. My husband and I also giggled as we made silly baskets for each other.

My husband had a very busy work schedule so I decided to take Victoria on an extended 10-day trip to visit my family out-of-state. There is nothing as sweet as watching other people love on your baby. Here is us enjoying some time with my mom.

 

Oh, and I don't know if I mentioned this before my hiatus, but I changed my hair! Most women experience hair-loss after having a baby and I suffered it in the extreme. I swear I lost about half of my hair. I was feeling a little down about it and my hair had become very limp and thin. So my brother's wife, who is a great stylist in Nashville helped me out and gave me a fresh style. She cut a significant amount off and gave me a long angled bob. She also added a couple highlights for fun.

Glad to be back!