It's been 10 days....

Forgive me blogger for I have sinned...it's been 10 days since my last post.  I have been surprisingly busy doing things that I can't remember and forgetting to do the things I was supposed to do.  (Am I getting old? good lord).

Last week went by like any other in the life of a fitdad, I spent 2 (not 3...grrr) days working out.  I followed my diet relatively well until Saturday evening, more on that below.  I lost another pound and now sit comfortably at 194.6, a total of 40.4lbs lighter than my starting weight last year in January.  I have also noticed that even though I am not losing weight at the rate I was before that my body is reshaping itself.  I look leaner even when I am not losing weight.  Clothes fit looser every week and pretty soon I am going to need to invest in some new pants and shirts.  Its hard to fit into my old baggy clothes anymore (pats self on back) and I look silly in some of the XL stuff I used to wear.

When Christine and I found out we were going to have a baby we told each other, no promised each other that we would make a concerted effort to spend time together.  That we would invest in quality adult time occasionally to make sure that we didn't forget why we got married in the first place.  We committed to a date night at least once a month (or more) when we could find a sitter for Noah.  Since Noah has been born we have spent about 2 nights away from him for more than a few hours and he was always in the hands of his grandparents (my mom and dad or Christines).  One evening was my coworker Natalies wedding the other was dinner on New Years Eve at the Outback.

When I got the text message last week from my friend Brian that he was planning a nice night out with his fiance Nicole for her birthday at a new restaurant in Cranberry Twp, we knew we needed a night out!  Brian made reservations for the 8 of us at Restaurant Echo.  I can tell you that I was checking out the menu and thinking about a night out all week.  I just couldn't wait to spend a night out on a Saturday with my wife and my friends. True this was not a "date night" because we were with friends, but it still qualified as a night out sans child.  (If this was a food review website I would go into more details...but I can tell you that the food was excellent, service was good, bar was swanky and modern, and had great scotch).  Definitely give it a shot if you live in the area!

We employed the services of my sister and her boyfriend to take care of Noah.  Noah doesn't come with an instruction manual so being the nervous, overly prepared,  wonderful parent I am I gave my sister a little letter with his tricks, and how to properly mix up a bottle.  Handed them some money for food and away we went.  Dinner was wonderful, the food and the company were first class.  The atmosphere in the restaurant was nice as well.  The occasional text message from Trish letting us know that our son was the easiest baby ever and that he ate a lot and fell asleep right on cue was also reassuring.  I wasn't the least bit nervous with her watching him, I have the utmost faith in my little sis.  Babies are unpredictable though...Noah could have been "difficult" and he could have been cranky.  He could have fought sleep and cried or projectile vomited all over T and the couch.  Luckily (and as expected) none of that happened.  We came home to a sister and boyfriend enjoying a movie on the couch singing the praises of our son.  If Noah continues down this path throughout his childhood I have a feeling we are never going to have trouble finding sitter and will probably have to increase our frequency of date nights.

Our next night out will be just the two of us though, I owe that to Christine.  She does so much around the house when I am working and still works 2 days a week.  I would be at a loss without her in my life and I owe her a nice night out just the two of us.

I was thinking about creating a second post for today with just pictures but since this post lacked pictures to this point without further adieu here are Noah's Valentine's pictures.  (Yes this may be early for the holiday, but Christine wanted to order some cards online and then have some time to address them and get them mailed).

Do I take too many pictures of my kid? YEP! Do I really care?  Nope...it's a digital and computer storage is cheap! I mean who can blame me really he is pretty cute...

5 Months!!

Our beautiful baby boy is 5 months old, my how the time just FLIES by!!  During the first few months of our time here with Noah the time just seemed to go on forever.  (I don't mean that in a negative way either)...We just spent so much time awake at all hours of the day that I never thought the rest of the time would fly like this.

Noah is still growing nicely, he is approaching 19lbs and is already starting to fit into some 9 month outfits!  He is rolling whenever we put him on his stomach.  He can sit independently for a few seconds before you need to catch him and reset him.  He loves his toys, especially his interactive books with buttons and lights.  His method of using them is to make his excited face and smash the books with his hands until they make noise and light up.  BAM BAM BAM!

Our little man laughs so much now!! There is nothing like coming home after a rough day to his smiling happy face.  I love waking up in the morning taking my shower only to come out and find him sucking down a bottle in mommies lap.  I usually make a comment to him, only to have him turn and smile at me...bottle still in mouth.  But, I take second fiddle to mommy when she comes into a room.  When he hears her voice he just lights up, usually turning 180 degrees from whatever he is doing to catch her eye.

Noah has tried a few single grain cereals as well...he does not like rice cereal, but he loves oatmeal and wheat. He love to "help" you with the spoon.  By help I mean grab the spoon in his super baby grip and then smear the cereal on his face or hands.  In a month or so with the ok from the pediatrician we will graduate to fruits and veggies.  Until then formula and cereal keep our boy nourished and plump!

Of course no monthly Noah update would be complete without an assortment of cute photos.  So without further adieu here is your monthly dose of cute (I'm biased...all babies are adorable:)

It's been a whole year.

It just dawned on me during my weigh in on Sunday that I have been doing Weight Watchers for men for a full year now.

I began that journey on January 9th, 2011 here with a different blog.  I started weight watchers at a hefty 235lbs and close to a 40" waist, I was headed down a path of obesity and self destruction.  Ok, maybe destruction is a strong word but theoretically that was possible if I continued down that path.  Those first few months were really difficult for me.  Adjusting to a life of less food, more exercise, and less scotch and beer was awful.

On my 1 year weigh in anniversary January 8th, 2012 I weighed in at an exciting 195.8lbs.  In my head my goal was to lose 50lbs in one year. That would have put me at a healthy weight loss of just under a pound a week.  I am at 39.2lbs lost for the year, and couldn't be more excited.  The weight loss is very noticeable now.  I had a friend who hasn't seen me over 3 months say, "where did you go?"  I laughed and took that as a huge compliment!

This was me before I started weight watchers:

I now fit in almost 34" waist jeans, I was able to put on jeans the other day that I haven't worn in years.

I am now no longer ashamed of my gut hanging over my belt and will tuck in shirts again.  (Now I look less sloppy).


This is me now:

(I really need to get some more full body pictures of myself, but its tough because I am always the guy behind the lens).

I definitely look drastically different in the face, and although the picture of me with Noah is from when he is 5 days old, I have only lost about 6 or 7 lbs since then.

I am regaining my confidence, and with the added weight loss my workouts supercharge my days.

I am faster.

I am leaner.

I am happier.

I am healthier.

I am stronger.

I am better now than I was before, and I will be even better this year.

I will be able to keep up with Noah when he starts walking and running.

I sleep better.

My joints don't hurt when I run anymore.

My feet don't hurt after work anymore.

My clothes fit like they are supposed to.

My wedding ring doesn't fit because my fingers got skinnier...(WTH, I had fat fingers?!!)

I bought a bike, I ride alot.

I run, ALOT.

As my next challenge to myself I also joined the Shirt Off Swimsuit Challenge , you can join their facebook page.  It is run by a rather inspirational person as well.  Brad L.  I met Brad when I first started running again at a Fleet Feet Couch to 5K program.  Brad is a marathoner (and longer distances), cyclist, and all around pretty fit guy these days.  Challenge yourself to be ready for the beach this summer and join his facebook group.  I don't know if I will ever be posting pictures of myself with my shirt off...but I will be ready for the beach this summer, will you?

Also, as a side note if you need some humorous and charming gems to read you should check out my little sisters blog as well...Click here, here, or here.  It will take you to her page.

Resolute.

I have never been much of a New Years Resolution person.  Not that there is anything wrong with making resolutions, but it seems as though most people don't keep them, or they set some unattainable goal that will take more than a year to accomplish and give up when they realize they won't reach their goal.

"I'm resolving to be a better person." (Why?  shouldn't you just do that normally?)

"I'm resolving to lose weight." (do you really need a new year to decide that?)

"I'm resolving to go to church more." (I should probably do that...)

"I'm resolving to eat more cookies." (now that is a solid resolution)

"I'm resolving to drink less alcohol." (it's empty calories...)

"I'm resolving to be less mean to people." (Me mean? NEVER.)

I'm not trying to harp on anyone making resolutions but I just don't like the idea of people resolving things at the New Year because usually it just sets people up to fail or quit.  If you are resolving to lose weight in the new year understand that you have a huge commitment in front of you.  You need to change your mindset entirely.  If you plan on just dieting to lose weight you are never going to be satisfied with the results because eventually when you quit your diet you are just going to gain the weight back.  If you resolve to be healthier, exercise more, or eat better it should be something that you commit to for the rest of your life not just because it felt right on New Years Eve.

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Years celebration.  I wish you all the health, wealth, happiness, and weight loss you work to achieve this year!

Happy New Year!

 

Merry Christmas...a bit late.

I had all intentions of writing multiple holiday and other blogs.  I had good intention to spend time with my family and document it all along the way.  I had plans to create some fantastic writings that were on par with A Christmas Carol...(ok, maybe that is an exaggeration).  I had plans to keep up with the blog over the previous few weeks and write more for your reading...umm pleasure?  But then I realized that planning for the holidays and taking care of a 4 month old is a much more important and necessary task.

So let me be the last to wish you a Merry Christmas, albeit a little late.

I have never been consumed with the presents at Christmastime, well except maybe as a starry eyed youth waiting for Santa to arrive.  Our Christmases growing up were always modest and exciting.  We never knew what Santa would put under the tree for us.  But of all the toys, clothes, pillows, underwear and gifts that we received as children the one thing about Christmas that really stuck with me was the holiday parties with family. It didn't really matter what gifts you got because you had the chance to spend so much time with family.  After I moved out of "home" the parties were still there, the family was still there, but part of me felt like part of the mystery and joy of Christmas was missing or maybe hidden from me.

I realized this year that the part of me that was missing from Christmas was that childlike wonder, that shear joy of being home and being with family and the excitement of Christmas morning.  This year on 8/17 was my Christmas, because Noah came into our lives.  He opened my eyes to the world of fatherhood, he energized my spirit and renewed my joy.  Christmas this year was very special because spending it with all my nephews, cousins, and with the newly minted grandparents there was renewed spirits.  I can't explain the feeling this year but it was different than the last few.  My mom always told me that growing up there was a moment when she could see that I had the spirit of Christmas.  Something clicked, something was different about me.

This year we simplified Christmas at home.  Christine and I didn't exchange gifts between each other, not because we couldn't afford to but because everything we needed was already under our roof.  We purchased most of our gifts online to avoid the stress and chaos of the malls.  (That and trying to take a 4 month old shopping for a few hours is beyond stressful).  We spent Christmas Eve in the company of my family in the home I grew up in.  The house was warmed with the laughter of little children carrying on throughout the house.  The barking of dogs chasing the kids and the happy conversation of brothers and sisters and grandparents warmed by a few Christmas beverages and foods.

I sometimes just sit there and watch the interactions among family.  The subtle glances and touches between my sister and her new boyfriend.  The look between my brothers eyes and their wives while they watch their children play.  Seeing Noah's eyes light up when he lands in his great grandmas arms and she smothers him with hugs and kisses.  Watching my parents open up the personalized photo album that my sister in law so diligently worked on.  The tears of joy as my mom flipped through the pages laughing and crying at all the pictures of her family.  The excited expression of laughter and joy on my fathers face as he repeated over and over, "this is just awesome, this is just so great"..."what a great idea."  Spending time talking to my brother Andy who we see less than we would all like to because his job is so time consuming.  Watching my brothers interact with their sons wrestling and playing on the floor.  Enjoying the looks of happiness on my sisters face as she plays with her nephews and squeezes Noah.

This is where I found my Christmas spirit this year, it wasn't wrapped up in paper or tied in a bow.  It was all around me all weekend, all I needed to do was open my eyes and take it in and enjoy.

From our Family to Yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Ron, Christine, and Noah.

Wordless Monday.

Ok, so not entirely wordless, and most people do wordless Wednesday...maybe I can just call this Monday Mumblings...anyways, here are some pictures from the weekend!

Meanwhile At the North Pole

I had my first "paying" gig as a photographer yesterday.  Noah, Christine, and I played host to Mark, Kristin, and Carly for their Christmas pictures.  I was paid in PF Changs, quite a delicious reward for time spent with good friends, plus Noah got time with his giiirrrlllfriend.  She spent most of her time just begging him for the credit card so she could go shopping.

Carly was a very good sport the entire time, she posed pretty for the camera and smiled alot.

(She was pooped at the end, and let us know when she had had enough!)

It's so nice that we have friends and family with kids who are all so close in age.  I am looking forward to our kids all growing up together.  I am also really looking forward to the time when Noah can understand Christmas and really appreciate the season!  We spent this past weekend at my brother and sister in laws house seeing Santa!  Most kids ran away from Santa terrified because he was a stranger, Noah being the happy go lucky kid he is just stared at him.

Here are some of the highlights from their party.

 So this is what it's all about it...oh yeah...presents!

 I've been told he has "Orpik" eyes.

 Who is this guy?

 Emry wasn't too excited about Santa, but we love gifts!

 Get that camera out of my face!

 Love this picture!  Santa's eyes are closed and you can just see the love.

 The happy hosts with Santa.

 Aren't the holidays really just about the food?

 Avery and Mommy

Happy guy award goes to this little man!