Food and Personal Goals of the Month - December 2010

Almost the end of the year.  Hard to believe.  Looks like we're kicking off December with snow.  Hopefully it won't stick around quite yet :)  This month will be very busy with Christmas shopping, baking, cooking and Christmas parties.  But hopefully I can still accomplish my goals.

FOOD

1. Eating for pregnancy, specifically the 2nd trimester.

Essential nutrients throughout pregnancy:

B Vitamins - meat, poultry, lentils, whole grains or Brewer's yeast
Vitamin C - fruit and vegetables or raw juice
Vitamin E - olive oil and nuts or vit. E supplement (Dr. Ron's)

Essential nutrients during 2T (bone and muscle formation):

calcium and protein (meat, fish, poultry, milk, cheese, eggs or whey)

2. Reduce grains.  Keep working on this now that I'm feeling better.

3. New recipes.  I'd like to try new recipes more often.  I just need to make work of finding recipes to try :)

4. Cooking/baking - try making yogurt, butter, new flavors of ice cream, cheese (stuff I can make with our raw milk.).  I also need to do some Christmas baking.  Yesterday I made my first batch (ever) of gingerbread men.  We still have to decorate them.  And I plan to make traditional Christmas cookies.  But I want to try making them healthier too.

5. Christmas parties - serve REAL food for the holidays (I'm hosting 2 out of 3 parties this year).  Keep my Christmas baking healthier.

HEALTH

1. Continue my healthy eating/lifestyle series. Potential topics - nitrites/nitrates, artificial ingredients, aluminum, soy, phytates, nuts, gluten/grains, sugars, dairy, steps toward healthy living.

2. pregnancy and childcare - learn more about natural care during pregnancy and for raising children (i.e. nutrition, first foods, etc.).

COST REDUCTION

I have had this on my list of goals for a long time now.  And I've gotten to the point where they are the same every month.  So I am not going to list them anymore since they are just part of my lifestyle now.  I did want to mention, however, that I am currently reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover.  My husband has already read it and has learned a ton.  He loaned it to his brother to read as well.  Now it's my turn so that Justin and I are on the same page when it comes to our spending/finances.  When I'm done I will do a book review.  But I can already say that I highly recommend it!  The principles in it will give you financial freedom and stability.

FAMILY/PERSONAL

1. Sewing machine - keep working on this, trying new things.

2. Be creative.

3. Activities.

a. Kindermusik
b. nursery cmt (meeting Dec. 14, nursery duty Dec. 12 and 25)
c. Little Lambs (helpiong Dec. 5)
d. MOPS (meetings Dec. 3 and 17)
e. Christmas shopping!!!
f. Do some more thorough cleaning.
g. Justin gone the week before Christmas
h. Gymnastics - We were finally able to get Rebecca signed up for gymnastics!  We start next Monday.

4. Fun stuff.

a. Wharton Center kids show - Dec. 5
b. Christmas parties - hosting the party with all of my in-laws (house guests 21sy - 23rd) and the party with my extended family (25th).  We will be celebrating with my family in Grand Blanc...date still TBD.
c. OB appts. - Dec. 1 and 20 -  u/s!!!

5. Rebecca - some things to do with Rebecca this month:

a. Keep working on potty training - Rebecca had a UTI last week.  We think it's because she's trying to hold things too long when she's wearing underwear.  So, the nurse said to be sure to take her to the potty regularly, not wait for her to tell us she has to go.  I kept going back and forth between the two methods...do I let her have accidents/figure it out/wait for her to tell me?  Or do I just take her regularly?  Now I have an answer.  I grew up with bladder issues that have severely impacted my whole life.  And I don't want the same to happen to Rebecca.  So for now we'll just go regularly.  Even if it means only Mommy is potty trained for a while :)  It will greatly reduce accidents and cut out frustration/anxiety related to it.  We are thankful the UTI is cleared up after one round of meds.  And hopefully it won't come back now.

b. Keep working on letters, numbers, spelling/sounds, counting, math, etc.

c. Teach her a little more about babies

d. Keep working on her new room - find a dresser.

6. Memorize scripture - still have to figure out which passage to work on.
7. Long term goals.

a. Overcome OCD
b. Stop using miralax - I am being realistic about this.  So far my gut has not been too happy during pregnancy.  And my eating during the 1st trimester did not help.  I know I'm on the right track now that I'm eating better again.  But it's still a work in progress.  I did, however, find a natural, home rememdy blog that talks about natural/safe things to take instead of laxatives.  So this month I will be researching and looking into those.  I would be very happy if I could at least replace the chemicals I currently take with something natural.  My ultimate goal is to not have to "take" anything.  But this would definitely be a step in the right direction.