A fresh year

Hello and Happy New Year from Solomon!

I always love the beginning of a new year.  A fresh year with goals and hopes and wondering - as Hunter often says when we're reading a story - "What will happen next??!"

I always loved the Anne of Green Gables book series.  One quote from Anne I particularly like is:  "Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it."  I feel like that many nights when I am thinking about my day.  And I always think about that at the start of a new year.

I am looking forward to a lot of things this year.  Like many people - I am looking forward to loosing weight!  I've gained 2 lbs. over the holidays, which means I need to lose 22 lbs. to get down to my normal weight.  I always gain a lot of weight when I am pregnant - even though I really don't eat a lot more.  I have been amazed at how fast I am losing weight after Solomon's birth.  I lost a lot fast, and then for the past month have been losing about 5 lbs. a week.  That is until last week.  I have been following a great eating style I learned about from a book called Trim, Healthy Mama.  I will blog about it soon because the book is incredibly helpful.

I'm also trying to heal my diastasis recti muscle that was really stretched and messed up from my last three babies.  I'm following the "Tupler Technique" for exercises and have seen much improvement.  I also plan to blog in more detail about it, in hopes it will help others with "mommy tummies."  (Actually men can damage this muscle too.)

I am almost finished with my book LillyBear Goes to Chincoteague.  My progress came to a halt in September when Solomon was born, and then we moved 3 weeks later.  Then I had much unpacking to do, struggled with post partum depression some, and well - life has been busy!  But my goal is to finish my draft this month.

I have plans to make this blog easier to find information on for people that are new to it.  I am going to add several pages.  A summary of Lilly's life, a page of Trisomy 18 resources, and a page of a list of memorial ideas.  I'd like to also go back and "label" earlier posts so people can find information easier.

I have so many ideas for blog posts - on a variety of topics - from homeschooling ideas to doing laundry with soap nuts.  I sometimes feel I will burst if I don't write, so I thought I should share things that may be useful to others.  And of course I'll continue to share memorial ideas and about our latest "In Memory of Lilly" projects.

I am praying for anyone reading this, that the Lord will bless you and guide you in the new year!