And it was MY idea! Rental houses in Seattle are crazy expensive and ‘saving’ is really hard to do…. After many days and nights full of prayer and reflection, I decided we would move on the boat while I attend grad school. And as far as our future savings go, I hope this will kickstart our opportunity to save up to buy our first home after I graduate.

Its been a time of adjustment – and I’m surviving. Actually last night my hubs mentioned to me that he thought we’ve settled in nicely. I nodded and smiled as we sat on our little back porch, enjoying the cool night.

There are definitely a lot of perks to our new location. I love being able to walk basically everywhere! Love it!

Excited for this new chapter in our lives and the new adventure that awaits. See you on the water! 😉

First, my hub’s review is probably going to be more entertaining than mine. You can read it here: http://ben.lobaugh.net/blog/202603/whole-30-in-review

Second, I don’t believe we made it the actual 30 days. Life happens.

Third, I learned a ton. About me.  And food.  And me and food.

I learned I don’t do dairy. Yuck yuck yuck. My tummy feels much happier, healthier.  If I accidently consume dairy I’m a train wreck with a huge tummy ache.

I also learned how important it is to stop and read the labels in the grocery store. That it is easy to eat wholesome food. That herbs, spices are your (tasty) friends. And my list making and organization rocked the whole 30.

My hubs and I learned that we are two meals + snacks kind of people. During a normal day (which I’m not a lifeless sleeping zombie recuperating or preparing for night shift) we eat breakfast/brunch and dinner. Usually. Three meals for us is a lot. We like snacking, which wasn’t endorsed by The Whole 30. We made it work. I don’t think my hubs starved…. Too much 😉

Following that last statement, I also learned my hubs believed he had scurvy during The Whole 30 (absolutely ridiculous) See link above.

And I want to do it again! We felt so great after the first week. It’s really touched my eating habits and made me a better nutrionista for myself. Except now. I’m having candy for dinner. Oops.

Review done. Got to consult the calendar to see when we can do our second Whole 30!

In a hurried, thoroughly enjoyed few days I made Father’s Day cards for our patients in the NICU. They turned out so great, and I even had a chance to work on them with one of my lovely girlfriends. The Mother’s Day cards were sweet and the Father’s Day cards were just as cute! Loved all the outdoorsy themes I was able to create.

And I was so blessed to have received a donation of rubber stamps from one of my coworkers! I’m a happy stamper 🙂 can’t say my hubs was too pleased with the big bag I brought home 😉

Can’t wait for the next occasion to celebrate the babies and their families!

For Mother’s Day this year, I made cards for all the babies in the NICU! I really enjoyed using my crafting time towards giving the NICU moms recognition for all their strength and courage. As a parent in the NICU, many losses are experienced as far as birth plans, having a newborn baby at home, feeding, holding, etc – everything is so different! I am completely honored to be working with the babies and families. Thank you to all the preemie moms out there and thank you to each and every MOM. You are strong, beautiful, fierce women. 

Today was great.  As the day closes, I am able to reflect in my heart and mind about how the day went and seep in my feeling of absolute contentment.

I’m going to overshare the details of today…. Maybe with a little bit of pride, since it’s after 8PM AND IM STILL FEELING GREAT. Successful day functioning to the fullest! Oh yeah!

Woke up early so I could take my time this morning and not feel rushed.  Hubs made me a cup of coffee to wake up to, bless him. Picked out my outfit in attempts to avoid a fashion show (success), got my lunch packed for the day as well as my backpack.  It was going to be a long day and I needed to have appropriate food, fluid and supplies for the lactation training class. I think it helped I slept hard and long last night. I felt so rested and awake this morning. Turns out sleep does wonders to this little body of mine 😉 Made breakfast for hubs and myself – most important meal of the day!!! And then showered and dressed myself up. Meanwhile between all these things I also did a load of laundry. God is good! And caught an early bus just in case I couldn’t find the classroom right away.

Our lactation experts are so – EXPERT. I enjoyed their teachings and how they passionately showed their love for their work. I definitely learned quite a bit today and can’t wait for tomorrow’s learnings. Even more, I am so looking forward to incorporate everything into my practice as a neonatal nurse.  I signed up for this class wanting to more support our breastfeeding moms… Prior to today, I felt like this area of my practice and care (which is huge – feeding your baby heeeelllllllo) was so lacking and I had nothing riveting to offer; my confidence in helping these moms and babies was close to nonexistent.  So thankful for these ladies and all they have to offer us and teach us to help our patients be more successful.

After a lovely bus ride home I was excitedly greeted by my furry girls! It is incredibly beautiful out (AKA sunshine) and we went for a stroll around the neighborhood. I  was thinking about how beautiful the greenery and blossoms are, how well behaved my girls were during the walk, how blessed I am to be so happily married and loved, thankful that my mom breastfeed us, and I thought about how much I have grown into my career and how much I love doing what I do. The business of premature births and babies can lead to a long, hard journey.  But to be able to do the work I do and teach, educate, love on and support the family during this time in their life is such a true true blessing and privilege for me. To witness such strength, vulnerability, emotional, mental and physical hardship and to be able to advocate, intervene, empower these families is challenging and so fulfilling for my heart and soul!

Feeling so content, full hearted and happy.

Thanks for letting me overshare!

24 days to go! 

I feel like it’s been longer. I am still dreaming of candy, chippies, and ice cream and the hubs is dreaming of cheese, mini gourmet pizzas, and crackers + bread. 

That being said, I think we are feeling serious detox taking place in our bodies. Wow! This program might be working after all 👍🏻

Here are some pics of the dinners we have had the last couple of nights. Not too sad looking, I think ☺️ 

Chili, bison burger, and steak up top. Don’t worry, we have had chicken and turkey and pork too. I do have some fish in the fridge. We are mixing up our proteins! And eggs. Eggs for breakfast and snacks if we are still needing more protein. Eggs eggs eggs. 

I’m so stubborn about finishing this tough love program! GONNA DO IT 😊 off to meal prep since I will be a night owl/vampire the next few nights 🌙 
Thanks for reading my update! Happy Sunday and pray for my hubs that he doesn’t starve 😝  

Today marks the first day of our first Whole 30 I’m excited and nervous! Mostly looking forward to the positive impact on our health. I really want to break my sugar habit! With switching between day and night functioning, my sugar dragon can get really out of control. Here’s to 30 days of tough love!

Last night I did some meal prepping (and kitchen prepping) to make our first day easy peasy. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen but I think it was well worth it! And I think we will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen for these 30 days. That’s what happens when you eat a fresh ingredients! This morning I popped some chicken in the slow cooker (mmmmmmmmmmhhhhmmm moist meat and little effort on my part) and we will have that for dinner with leftovers for lunch tomorrow and maybe a few snacks later.

I love meal planning – I live for organization and to do lists…. So I’m thinking that this won’t be too much harder than what we have normally done.  I’ll try to update the blog on my experiences throughout the Whole 30.

I’m giggling to myself because I made this blog to highlight the sweets (I love baking) and now I’m entering a tough love program that will hopefully change my relationship with sugar and with many foods 😜 I’m not going to say goodbye to cupcakes for forever, but my overwhelming addiction to sugar needs to go! My body will thank me later ☺️

Lobaugh Ladies had a girls night out a few weeks ago! 

It was so much fun 🙂 such a great dinner and show and wonderful company. I think this was one of the first outings of the ladies since I officially joined the family and claimed the name 😉 

The actors were oh so talented, and every moment was full of entertainment. Quite a bit of laughter through the night. I would definitely recommend for a date night, if you have family or friends visiting from out of town or if you have a need for some sort of celebration! It was a very memorable night 💗💗 
Thanks ladies! Until next time 😎

Staying up on my night off before I go back to work for the weekend. Knocking out four shifts without back to back four shifts. Can’t complain since I get to enjoy good company, craft and relax with my mug of earl grey tea on my Friday night. 

Enough chit chat about work! It’s about six months of marriage for this happy wife! Being married has been fun. We have learned so much about each other and ourselves. I am so excited for the moments, weeks, months, years ahead! 

We are midway through our six week journey at the City Church! It’s been a great experience so far. I have sent the messages to my mom every Monday so she can hear some true hearted sermons from Judah and participate in some conversation with Jesus. I’ve really enjoyed sharing that with her. 

My baby girl Mariah is turning 9 years old this month! 🐶 I can’t believe it!! She still acts as if she’s 3 years old, playful as ever. And I think her personality and emotions are becoming more and more complex. She is a crack up at our house. We love her! 

Bella is doing well too. Crazy, hyper, playful, very fond of snuggles. She’s a happy baby girl! 

I think that’s all for now. I will try to post more on my lovely pink blog 🙃