#goals

One of the things that David and I have struggled with since moving here is finding our church "home". We attended a local Church of Christ for a spell, but still felt as though something were missing. We desperately craved the type of relationships we had at Meridian (you know, before things got crazy), but our chaotic schedules made regular attendance and fellowship difficult. At one point, we stopped going altogether. Curiously, even though we've found a different church that works for us, we're still inconvenienced by our hectic and demanding schedules. I'm finally getting out of the habit of wishing "tomorrow" would get here, but I can't help but be excited for a time when we will have the time (and energy) to meet new people and make new friends. This last year, I've made a conscious effort to make time for God and for the amazing things He is doing our lives.  It's not everyday that I find myself reflecting on sermons hours after I hear them. Today's experience, however, was an exception and I'm so excited to share it with you.

#GOALS

Everybody has them. Some of us are notorious makers and breakers. Some of us set long term goals, while others are satisfied with meeting smaller, daily goals. Some of our goals are practical, while others are a thing of dreams. We often define personal achievement by our ability to meet or exceed the goals we set for ourselves. One of the biggest problems with this, however, is knowing whether or not the goal that you have set/met is the right goal. Meeting the wrong goal does not always fulfill our needs. Making good time to the wrong destination still makes us lost. Recently, we have purposely embarked on a journey that is uncomfortable on an individual level and stressful at the married level. The goal of this journey has challenged our thoughts and actions, and has motivated us to "do a lot with a little". What I've been able to take from this experience is that sometimes the right goal is not what we want, but rather what we need. Another thing I've come to accept is that reaching IS achieving. Having the courage, the strength, the resilience, and the commitment to stretch yourself beyond what you previously thought was impossible is the moment in which God uses your limited gifts to merge the gap between your limitations and the amazing plans He has made for you. We might not be comfortable and we might feel like we're stretching beyond our capabilities, but after today's message, we're certain that the growth is in the stretch.

I hope you feel challenged to continue stretching toward your goal; to continuously reevaluate your progress and your end game. Share this with someone who might be struggling with their personal conviction and drive!

Banana Almond Butter Muffins

In an attempt to get back on track after my trip, I've been looking for recipes to help curb my sweet tooth - or at least satiate it in a sort-of-healthy kind of way. Check out this quick muffin recipe!

*Gluten free
*Whole30 approved

Ingredients:
- (1) cup almond butter
- (3) ripe bananas (original recipe called for 2, but when I do this over, I'm going to use three to get a stronger banana taste)
- (2) large eggs
- (1) tsp vanilla
- (1/2) tsp baking soda
- OPTIONAL: (1) tbsp honey (Not sure how these would taste without the honey, so I recommend adding it)
- OPTIONAL: you can add absolutely anything you want - nuts, blueberries, chocolate chips, etc

How-to:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2) Blend all ingredients in the blender (what??? too cool.) until it is creamy
3) Grease muffin tin (I used Coconut Oil spray)
4) Pour mix into liners
5) Cook for 12-14 minutes or until baked all the way through

Enjoy, y'all!! xoxo

Edible Fingerpaint

After many requests, here are the ingredients and instructions for the super easy edible fingerprint activity!

Ingredients:
-Baby oatmeal cereal
-Water to desired consistency
-Food coloring

Activity Prep:
We did this in the bathtub to minimize clean up. If you want to do this anywhere outside of the tub, I suggest using posterboard instead of paper. Lay lots and lots of plastic. This stuff gets everywhere! Have all of baby's (and yours, if you decide to get in on the fun) bath stuff ready to go next to the tub because I guarantee it will be necessary!

                           

                               That's it! Totally easy, right?

 

At first, he wasn't really sure. But it was quickly evident that "edible" was key for this activity. 

 

Sensory activities are perfect for this age! Introducing infants to these types of activities fosters brain development and association behaviors.

 

I absolutely loved this! Everything was convenient from the ingredients to the clean up. Don't be afraid to let your babies get messy. I've come to realize in the last few weeks that this journey I'm on - motherhood - is not about prepping him for all of the amazing things I know he will do with his life later, but enjoying every single second now. Feel free to steal the hashtag #beherenow that I'd picked up from a few of my girlfriends a few months back. Implement it in your marriage, in your spiritual life, in your job, and in your seemingly monotonous day-to-day activities. When it feels like you're waiting for your life to "begin", remember that you're missing the life you're living!

xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glorious Mommyhood

I've been perfecting this entry over a period of time - trying to come up with the perfect way to convey all of the exciting newness of becoming a mother. Looking back on my last post, it's so funny to read about how I imagined everything would be compared to how it actually was. If you've caught any of my five-a-day pictures of Roman, you already know that I love this little bundle of grossness. I love the dirty diapers, the constant flow of vomit, the hunger screams, the tired tantrums, and the every-hour feedings when all I want to do is get four straight hours of sleep. I know! It sounds like a healthy batch of sarcasm, but really - he's the best. But just so we're clear here [David], this will be the one and only miracle I push out.

To recap my journey so far: at my 38 week appointment, my mid-wife told me that I had no choice but to be induced within the next few days because of my blood pressure. I wasn't preeclamptic at that moment, but I was clearly on my way. So we were scheduled to arrive at the hospital on Sunday night. Unfortunately, this meant that I would forgo the natural water birth I had always dreamed of and that I really had little say on whether or not I'd have an epidural. Apparently, my blood pressure would be too high not to have one (they were right). My labor was exactly like the Alien picture I featured in my last post; complete with painful screams, tears, and a team of people holding me down while baby Roman violently forced his way out. I was lucky enough to have a short labor of 10 hours, with a grand total of 15 minutes of pushing. Those 15 minutes of pushing, however, were accompanied by a panic attack set off by a surge of back pain brought on when my mid-wife rolled me from my side to my back right after she told me I was ready to push. Whoever said epidurals make you completely numb (or told me so, anyway) was a liar. It made me feel heavy and tired, but I still felt the contractions and still wanted to die. Fast forward through a fever, a BP of 157, specialists rolling in crash carts, hooking up an EKG machine, covering this claustrophobic, crazy person's whole face with an oxygen mask, and you have the birth of beautiful, flawless 8 lbs 9 oz baby Roman.

Many of my labor fears went unmet including tearing or having to have an episiotomy. My mid-wife was spectacular. I'd definitely recommend getting one, even if you intend on having a hospital birth. No doctor is going to massage your perineum. At least not without a sizable bribe. Anyway. We stayed for a few days, enjoyed a few visitors, and returned home to a glorious unknown to start being parents.

The first few days were met with complete uncertainty. Thank God my mother was here with us because it was a real struggle navigating breastfeeding and circumcision wounds. Admittedly, I couldn't bring myself to change one dirty diaper until his little areas healed. It was physically painful even being within earshot during his changing. Apparently, the hospital we were at wasn't up with current wound care practices and we could have avoided painful diaper changes with a circumcision wrap. I'd say "next time", but...you know. Over the next several weeks, we were blessed to be in the company of our mothers. It's a never ending cycle for them. Though we've finally settled in to a rhythm that's comfortable, it was suddenly strange to be on our own without any help. How do other people do it?

There's a lot to look forward to in the upcoming months. At the moment, I'm concentrating on establishing a schedule that Roman can rely on when I return to work, maintaining my epic GPA (which I say as I'm currently procrastinating on a paper due in five and a half hours), and losing weight. At seven weeks postpartum, I've lost 29 lbs! This week I'll be trying my hand at Burn Boot Camp after I get my IUD (assurance that there won't be any additional Hindmans to this family). While I've only got 4 more lbs to go until my pre-pregnancy weight, I'd like to lose about 30 more in order to get rid of this belly pooch. There's nothing like carrying around a 12 lb baby up the stairs to remind you that you are terribly out of shape. If nothing else, a little nip/tuck never hurt anyone, right? Only 3 more weeks of maternity leave left before I have to stop enjoying these 3 and 6 am feedings. Again, only partial sarcasm intended.

Thanks for the continued support and offers for babysitting! Roman's 2 month appointment (WHAT??) is right around the corner, which daddy gladly agreed to take him to because mommy can't handle shots! Continue following the ridiculously fast growth of baby Roman by following me on Facebook (Samantha Hindman) or Instagram (@godstronggirl).

xoxo

How to hate pregnancy like a boss featuring hashtags

Holy 9 weeks!

Now that I'm approaching the end, I can't deny how strangely manageable these past seven months have been. But I'm also afraid that these easy breezy, beautiful (#covergirl) months come at the expense of 24 hours (or more) of hell. They say you forget...but I'll believe it when I see it.

In the beginning of my pregnancy, I suffered from nausea that persuaded me to avoid consuming most anything, but I was (and have been) fortunate enough to lack vomiting as a symptom of my changing body. In the middle, I was able to eat more, but experienced a smattering of two-second heartburn and backaches (the only real symptom I could have done without) coupled with severe irritability and a lack of patience. (Poor David.) Currently, I'm experiencing this feeling of HUGENESS, as if I could fall forward (or pass out from walking up the stairs) at any minute...and I pretty much look forward to any amount of time that my body gets to be horizontal. I don't want to do much of anything, but there is still so much to do. And did I mention the stretch marks? #thestruggle, am I right?

Speaking of stretch marks, I know some women who are so proud of their lil' miracle and are happy to share pictures of their bellies complete with phrases like "these are my victory stripes". #putyourshirtdown. I have a serious complex about the fact that my stomach currently looks like scene out of a pitiful slasher movie. In fact, for a majority of my pregnancy, I've associated pregnancy with this:

I should admit that I actually broke down at work one day because I was disgusted by being able to see Roman move inside me. #world'sworstpregnantwoman

I should also probably admit that on the flip side, I am incredibly satisfied with how AWESOME my hair has become since getting pregnant. Let's be honest, it's fanfrickintastic. #world'smostvainpregnantwoman

It's hard to fathom the degree of change awaiting me in these upcoming weeks. Often, I find myself overjoyed at the prospect of Roman's arrival; knowing that he was created from the unimaginably blissful relationship that I have with my spectacular husband. {--Can I just interrupt this thought process to truly appreciate how amazing David has been? I don't think I could have made it without having him around to tolerate my complaining or avidly admiring my gross body everyday or (literally) picking me up because I'm too heavy to get up off the floor/couch/bed/car/anywhere by myself? #world'sneediestwife--} Other times, however, I'm overwhelmed with fear and anxiety; nervous about how I'll be able to handle mom/wife/scholar/employee at once and still maintain some level of normalcy. I fluctuate between being content and being erratic on the daily. #acutebipolardisorder

Maybe things will get better once he gets here...or at least once he gets on a normal sleep schedule. Or maybe I'll be your average middle class MILF who tucks a flask between her bra and breast pad in case of "emergencies". #priorities. I'm kidding. Please don't call child services.

I feel obligated to thank everyone who has had the...pleasure...of dealing with me in any fashion since I've been pregnant. It has been a roller coaster of ridiculousness that I don't intend to repeat any time soon - if ever. You guys rock. #appreciate. Look for pictures on my facebook page by clicking the link or button to the right!

And then there were three.

We're kind of into that shock effect...

Women always imagine what that first moment of clarity will feel like; how your heart races, that second of disbelief, the mixture of fear and excitement all rolled into one indescribable emotion. I could clearly picture the elated look on his face and the salted tears on my own. I imagined the celebratory "Congratulations!" from our family and friends, the tight hugs, and contagious, squealing laughter. While I never did cry, what I never expected to feel was the innate calmness associated with being one with motherhood.

Introducing...Baby Hindman!

Coming to a womb near you July 2014!

Work. Tired. Exhaustion. Master's. Tired. Puppy. Tired.

I feel like this is my first ever blog post. Can I just say that I absolutely despise not having the time to be with my blog family anymore? Things are kind of insane here on my end!

I'm working now. Like every weekend. Like every day. Bedtime has its perks, I tell ya. Not mine, of course, but all of my crazy kids. Only 90 more hours of work to go. Unfortunately, I say that on a consistent basis, with no end in sight. Working this much and getting my Master's is no fun at all. But hey: I'm married. To the most wonderful man in the world, at that.

Lots of new things: my dad is semi-walking (!), we have a new puppy (please see the end of the most previous post for a laugh), and we're getting ready to move into a new apartment (hopefully the last apartment before house...and baby!).

I'd write more, but my ability to focus on things for an extended period of time has certainly dwindled. One free second and my eyes are convinced it's sleep time.

Until next time!

xoxoxox