The Lovens

What A Year Its Been

eveloven — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:45:05 +0000

2010 was an incredible year for my family and to think of it as over makes me sad. So instead I will change that last digit in print but continue in the joy and spirit that the year has brought.

After almost 4 years of pouring himself into his internship/volunteer work at The Bridge Church, Jeff landed his dream job as College Pastor, Video Venue Co-Pastor and Worship Leader. I am so very proud of Jeff for selflessly investing himself, his time and his energy so completely leading up to this. He has taken to his new position smoothly, with excitement and is thriving! What a blessing it has been for him and for our family.

After a joyful though often difficult pregnancy, months of bedrest, and through a long recovery, we welcomed our first baby, Josiah David. Words cannot adequately express how incredible he is, how brilliantly he has changed our life or the joy we experience daily in him.

We also shared in the joy of my niece’s high school graduation soon after which our California girl moved to Lexington, Kentucky to attend the University of Kentucky and earned a 3.2 GPA her first semester on her own. We are so proud of her!

My sister Anna is newly engaged this year to her boyfriend of 7 years. I am ecstatic for Anna and Andrew! Every time I see or speak to her I see how overwhelmed with happiness she is and I can’t help but think how lucky that guy is to have won her heart… and how lucky we are to add him to our family officially.

Also this year I had an opportunity to visit with my dearest girlfriends for the first time in 4 years. We were all together in the spring, a feat not easily done as we seem to be so spread out. Of that group, one friend found the love of her life and a great job this year and another has become engaged!

As always, the year had its share of worry, fear and sadness. My dad had a heart attack which led to a triple bypass surgery this summer to replace the valves from his bypass 15 years previous. It was a very scary time for my family, a reminder of what matters most (people, relationships, family) and to be intentional about where and in whom you invest your time and yourself. Praise God my dad fought his way through recovery and is continuing on towards health!

What a year its been. As I greet the coming year and all God’s plans for it, I find myself so content, blessed, loved and in love with life. I wish all my family and friends the joys and thrills and hopeful anticipation of a new year. May God continue to move and move powerfully.

P.S. I also invite you to check out our up and coming new blog site: thelovenfamily.com for all future updates as this will be my last post to this site.

Meaningful Christmas Cards

eveloven — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 19:15:58 +0000

It’s that time of year again. When we celebrate the year thats passed and we intentionally (finally) send some special little greeting to everyone we know to say without words something to the effect of “I’m happy to have gone through another year with you.” Isn’t that kind of what you feel when you receive a Christmas card from somebody? Its not just that its expected to send cards, but that they thought of you specifically to send a card. Maybe I’m overly sentimental. I know we’ve all received cards that were obviously just a quick scribble to meet some status quo thats burried on a holiday “To Do” list. And we’ve all experienced a year when we were too busy to really ask ourselves what we wanted to wish our loved ones or too busy or financially taxed to send a card at all. I didn’t send cards last year. It happens. But the ideal, of course, is to design or find a card that says something meaningful.

Well, this year has been filled to the brim with wonderful things for my little family. From Jeff’s promotion at work, to the addition of Baby Joey, to my own career change; we have had an exciting year. And so many people have been a part of it, whether with kind words or acts of kindness or encouragement or quality time. And this year, because we’re obviously so delighted to have expanded our family to include the most incredible baby boy God ever created (an objective evaluation, I assure you), we’ve decided to send photo cards for the first time in our marriage. I like to receive photo cards with children/families because you can compare them to previous years and see how much they’ve changed and grown. The trouble, though, with photo cards can be that there is so little space to write any original wishes so they often just have a generic “Merry Christmas” and offer the underlying message “look at me!”

Solution: Shutterfly! While still in the planning stages, I thankfully found that Shutterfly offers a promotion in which bloggers can receive 50 free cards by blogging about Shutterfly’s cards. (Thanks Brandy!) The promotion offered another benefit to my newly budget conscious Christmas plans. (To find out more about the promotion click on the following link: http://bit.ly/sfly2010) I’ve been looking through many card options on Shutterfly’s website trying to find something of substance and fun. Happily I’ve settled on a folded photo card because I think folded cards offer more room to write something meaningful. Now I’ve been working through the details: Jeff requires that the card say ‘Christmas’ specifically and I think I know what I’d like to include in the inside message of the card and we have taken some great pictures of our new little family to use. The final piece, then, is picking the exact card. And here indecision strikes.

Please help! Click on the following link to view Shutterfly’s folded card options and let me know which you like best.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards Your input may help me finally decide before its too late to send the cards on time! While you’re there, check out these photo gifts, which I LOVE, for ideas to make some very personalized gifts. http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts

Days 4-7: Losing count

eveloven — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 05:22:38 +0000

Man am I glad that the weekends don’t count when dieting! Whew! What a relief! Cause, let me tell ya, what a doozy! Potato bar and ice cream bar with friends, pre-thanks dinner at lifegroup, chocolate pie…

Tomorrow we start again.

Day 3 – RESULTS

eveloven — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:14:26 +0000

I did a ten minute pilates ab workout and a ten minute “feel the burn” kickboxing workout in the morning. I know the time I spend exercising is minimal but I’ve never held myself to an exercise regimen before and am very pleased indeed at the consistency I’ve maintained… for three days… The day went pretty great, actually. Until I ate two dinners. I don’t want to talk about it…

OK, so knowing full well that I would be attending the Rock Thanksgiving Feast, I pulled out the leftover Chinese food from the back of the fridge saying to myself, “I should have thrown this out so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat it while on my diet.” Opening the containers, arranging the food on a plate and warming them in the microwave I said, “Baby steps, Eve. No one expects you to completely change your eating habits all at once. Plus, as a breastfeeding mother, you should eat whenever you are hungry.”

Then, arriving at the feast its explained that the intention is to experience new testament communion as it was practiced back in the day. We recite the Lord’s prayer, break unleavened bread together and then exemplify community while sharing a meal. How could I say no to that? So I ate. And took home a slice of apple pie and two cookies for dessert. And finished out the evening with some orange juice. Needless to say, I was WAY over my allotted calorie intake for the day. Oopsy daisy.

As I do every morning, I weighed myself this morning (day 4) and lo and behold, I’VE LOST TWO POUNDS!! I cannot tell you how encouraged and excited I am! The whole mindful eating thing is (obviously) hard for me as I’ve never ever ever told myself no before now. I know I can get to a greater level of will power and self-discipline where food is concerned, but I’m working against 26 years of eating habits here so I’m not going to go cold turkey in a week. But I will work on it. I WILL work on it. (repeating to self)

I have to say, already I am experiencing a marked difference in attitude and self esteem as a result of this daily routine and effort towards a goal. I was feeling a bit lost, floundering, if you will, in my new role as mom and housewife. But, my family is cared for, happy and healthy, my apartment is clean and in order and I feel quite accomplished. Go me!

Day 2 Recap

eveloven — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:49:31 +0000

Good news: I was much more active yesterday. 20 minutes of kickboxing exercises, walked 1 mile with the family, lots of chores.

Bad news: my calorie count was almost double what it needs to be for losing weight. Also, I only drank 32oz of water (still meets my goal) compared to the 64oz of water I had the day before. Coincidence? I think not.

Lessons learned: Snack smarter. Drink more water.

Fresh Start Day 1 Recap

eveloven — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 23:31:51 +0000

Day 1 (yesterday): got much needed encouragement and feedback from my friends about my goals. Pushed back my goal date to New Years so I’ll (fingers crossed) lose only 2 lbs per week which is still pretty ambitious. That makes this my official end of year resolution. Downloaded MyNetDiary app per a friend’s recommendation to journal and guide my efforts. Did a 10 minute pilates stretching and flexibility workout. Didn’t do anything more strenuous because my legs were killing me after Monday night’s 2 mile walk. Exceeded my allotted calorie intake by 353 calories and reevaluated my breakfast choices. And that glass of chocolate milk.

Hot for the Holidays

eveloven — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:19:14 +0000

Ok, here goes nothing. I am 12 weeks postpartum and serious (finally) about managing my fitness. I have decided to blog about it, joined an online group of new moms trying to lose weight (What to Expect – Hot for the Holidays Weight Loss Challenge) in the hopes of winning a host of Jillian Michaels stuff and I’ve emailed my current stats and goals to my besties. All in the hopes that public failure and utter humiliation will motivate me. Yes, I mean business!

This is something entirely new for me. Never in my life have I genuinely been concerned with they way I look. Never have I been motivated to change the way I look. Discipline in eating right and exercising are foreign to me. I was always far more concerned with being comfortable with myself which I happen to think is a healthy mindset, though ultimately will be my biggest challenge. Yes, I SHOULD be happy with me in whatever skin I am in. But I should also own my health and care for the body God gave me. I am recovering from my first of multiple pregnancies (hoping and praying) and need to set myself up for successfully managing my weight, health and fitness through them all. I had some difficulties both during pregnancy and recovery and I can’t help but wonder if I’d have had a far better experience if I’d started out fit. Also, I’ve quickly learned that to care for my family, I have to care for myself. A healthy, happy mama makes for a healthier, happier family.

So… With much hesitation… And vulnerability… Here are my stats…

Pre-baby weight: 125 lbs
Delivery weight: 160 lbs
Start weight (postdelivery): 152 lbs
Current weight: 143 lbs
Goal weight: 130 lbs by Christmas

Measurements (yikes!)
Current midsection: 39″
Goal midsection: 35″ by Christmas
Thighs (current): 23.5″ each
Goal: 22″ each by Christmas

Goal Habits:
Exercise daily
Drink 32oz minimum of water daily
Family walks 2-3 times per week
Home cooked dinners 4-5 times per week

So there it is. The play-it-safe side of me (which makes up about 2/3 of me, really) wants to label those goals as unrealistic and cut them in half as a “starting goal.” But the do-it-right-the-first-time part of me (another 2/3… oh wait…) and the if-I-don’t-do-it-now-I-never-will part of me (no more math, please!) are keeping me strict on my goals.

-Eve

The Lesson Bricked Road

eveloven — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 17:59:37 +0000

Looking back now, I can identify key lessons I’ve learned at certain points of my development which is encouraging because I’m only a quarter of the way through. Its also interesting to think through them, to see how each step builds on the last or sheds light on the next. So, because I’ve been thinking about this a bit and without much ado, here’s a super quick glimpse at my lesson bricked road.

While dating: To discover what it means to have your beliefs, opinions, and feelings valued, first value another’s. Listen and you will be heard.

In college: Relationships matter. People matter. Faith matters. Obligation and guilt get you nowhere genuine.

Planning my wedding: Don’t stress about the details. It’ll be fine.

Beginning my marriage:
Trust. Give. Repeat.
Laughter conquers stress.
Say what you need to, then let it go – even in your thoughts.
Know you are loved, trust that you chose well and be “the one.”
He doesn’t get it – if he did, he wouldn’t do it. =)

Beginning motherhood:
Do not put off for later what you can do right now.
Don’t push it.
Touch and holding communicate love for a baby as for a woman.
God did it this way on purpose.
Life is even more beautiful when not looked at through a camera’s screen.
Appreciate right now. You’ll have forgotten it by tomorrow.
He doesn’t get it – if he did, he wouldn’t do it. =)

In The Beginning

eveloven — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:06:43 +0000

Night #1
Approached it as an “all nighter.” Not a long term plan, but a crash course for us rookie parents. Worked great because any opportunity to sleep was a bonus, not an expectation. Thoroughly surprised at how much easier it was than expected. Would’a left the hospital a lot earlier if I’d known.

Night #2
Also known as Survivor: Baby Island. The question of the night was, “what have we gotten ourselves into?” Incessant and inexplicable crying for hours on end. Finally, in the wee small hours, Jo-Jo relented and slept. FINALLY.

Night #3
Back in the black. Unintentionally established a routine and stuck to it through the night. *Wimpering/moderate crying: leave baby alone. Full Crying: check diaper (daddy), feed baby (mommy), burp baby (daddy), swaddle (mommy), lay baby down in bassinet, sleep. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Note to self: thank God for our mothers’ and fathers’ help during the day. Thank God for friends & family bringing over meals. Thank God for my life partner. And crazy madd props to single parents.

Placing Bets

eveloven — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:13:44 +0000

Our Balderama family is placing bets on when our little Loven will arrive:

Amanda: 8/14
Anna: 8/15
Sonny: 8/17, between 2 & 3 pm, 7 lbs 8oz
Aunt Martha: 8/17
Emily Loven: 8/17
Aunt Suang: 8/18
Malissa: 8/18
Sandra: 8/18
Stephanie: 8/18, 2:51 pm
Uncle Frank: 8/19
Andrew: 8/19
Tara: 8/20* DUE DATE
Daddy (Richard): 8/21
Chris: 8/21
Matt: 8/21
Richard Jr: 8/22, 8 pm
Uncle Phil: 8/22
Michael: 8/22
Olivia: 8/22
Alyssa: 8/23
Mama (Marion): 8/24** FULL MOON
Aunt Kathy: 8/24**
Carol: 8/24**
Marie: 8/24**
Mitch: 8/24**
Jeff: 8/24**
Aunt Natty: 8/25
Erica: 8/25
Pete: 8/25
Jacob: 8/25
Justin: 8/26
Eve: 8/30 will have to be induced

Whats your bet?