sher's corner

Walk for Autsim - reaching our Goal!

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:41:00 +0000

Saturday is the Walk for Autism and Baby Bear and I have already surpassed our fundraising goal!! Thank you to all who have donated!

If you would still like to donate, it is not too late to help out. Click here to go to my personal web page and help me and Baby Bear in our efforts to support Autism Speaks.

100 push-ups: Survived the first week

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:42:00 +0000

Made it through the first week of my 100 push-up challenge and training program. Didn't do too bad and did a total of 62 push-ups for day 3. For day 3, the training has you do 5 sets with 120 second rest breaks. So I did 11, 15, 9, 9 for the first 4 sets. The last set, you do as many push-ups as you can manage and I did 18 (10 of them were full push-ups and the last 8 I ended up going on my knees). Not too bad for the first week.

Lunch time yoga

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:50:00 +0000

Today I did a yoga podcast during my lunch break. I turned off the lights in my office and went for it. It felt so great and I feel energized during the afternoon when I usually feel a slump. I am glad I gave it a shot. I think lunch may be my only workout time and so I am going to do my best to keep doing something energizing during lunch time.

100 push-ups: Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:46:00 +0000

I decided not to move down to the second level and stick it out with the third level. I am doing this to challenge myself and make it to 100 push-ups. I have set the goal to get to at least to 50 consecutive push-ups in my first shot. Because I still working my way to get back in shape, I want to make a realistic goal. It has been a long time since I really did push-ups. I stopped doing push-ups during my pregnancy because my baby bump got in the way. It's hard to do a proper push-up when you belly does not allow you to go down to your chest, LOL!!

100 push-ups: Week 1, Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:29:00 +0000

I started the training today. I started with level 3 of the workout, which was where my initial test placed me. Yikes, that was tough. I am thinking that I should probably start off with the second level. I made it through but I did not do full push-ups for each set. I will have a rest day tomorrow and then go on to day 2 on Wednesday. It really wasn't so bad.

100 push ups: Initial Test (and yoga!)

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:00:00 +0000

So I am serious about starting my 1o0 push-up training and the first step was to do the initial test to see what level I will start at and how many I can do. I completed 12 full good push-ups. That puts me in the 2nd rank according to the website (I was two away from the 3rd rank just and I couldn't get that 13 push-up out). That is not as bad as I thought I would do. But I also know that I used to be able to do about 20 or so and at one time I could do 30. Because I completed more than 10, that puts in the highest training level (there are 3). Crazy especially since I haven't done any real push-ups in so long. I had to stop some time during the pregnancy since my belly bump got in the way. Now I am ready to get started on Monday. It will be a good way to start a new week and a new month!! Wohoo! I am excited about this.

On top of starting up my 100 push-up training, this morning I went to yoga!! I love yoga. I had been going to yoga classes sporadically during my maternity leave and I was going to a Mommy and Me yoga class. Now that I know that Baby Bear can take a bottle (she was previously on bottle strike) I plan to go to yoga more regularly since I am now confident that Papa Bear can watch Baby Bear without starving her. My back is all out of whack from pregnancy and my epidural and I believe that yoga will help me to strengthen my back again. I know that when I began practicing yoga almost 8 year ago, that my back pains were greatly alleviated. In fact, I rarely had back pains when I started practicing yoga regularly. So I hope that the same will happen once I keep up my practice.

It feels good to getting back to some type of fitness routine. I am well on my way to getting fit. Hurray!!

100 push-up challenge

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:00:00 +0000

I so need to get back into shape. As a working mother, I am finding it very hard to find the time to workout. Before having Baby Bear, I worked out and exercised 4-6 days a week. I exercised throughout my pregnancy and even went for a nice walk the day I went into labor. Since she has been born, my time to work out has been scarce. I thought I would be back to getting into the gym by now, but I like to spend the little free time I have during the day with Baby Bear.

I really miss getting to the gym and doing an intense workout session and I feel so out of shape that it is very depressing to me. So I figured that I have to do something about it. Looking at my time, I am going to try to get a little exercise in during my lunch breaks. I figure 30-45 minutes a day is better than nothing.

I am going to start the 100 push-ups training program. I have talked before about how I love push-ups. I used to be able to do full push-ups without too much of a problem. Now I am lucky to do a few. So this will be one way to get me back. It is a 3-day a week commitment for 6 weeks, so it is very doable during lunch breaks. Hopefully, I can get a walk or maybe even a run in on the other days.

I am very excited to give it a shot and I will update my progress on this blog to help me stay accountable and to get this blog up and running again. This poor blog has been largely neglected because I have nothing to write about except Baby Bear. So here is something that is just for me that I can start to write about. I am very excited about this challenge and to get fit once again.

Walk Now for Autism

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Last year I participated in the Walk for Autism and I have signed up to do it once again. This will be Baby Bear's first charity walk (well, she participated last year in the womb). It is never too early to start to give and do something for a good cause.

I have written about why this cause is near and dear to my heart before, you can read about it in my other blog, Sher's Corner.

Click here to go to my personal web page and help me and Baby Bear in our efforts to support Autism Speaks.

Time to change those wiper blades

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:27:00 +0000

The forecast calls for possible rain in Southern California and my car needed new windshield wiper blades. Papa Bear kindly took care of this last night in anticipation of the rain. He went to one store and they were sold out of windshield wiper blades, so he went to another store and got them. He put them on in the parking lot and threw away the packaging and old wiper in the dumpster near the store. The dumpster was filled with old wiper blades and packaging. I guess we weren't the only ones taking care of things in anticipation of the rain.

Thanks Papa Bear for taking care of me! I love you.

A Pooh Bear Sequel

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:57:00 +0000

Photo from NPR

A sequel to the Winnie the Pooh books, Return to the Hundred Acre Woods, is coming out. I am totally excited!!!

Listen to the report on NPR.

Update on ways to help

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:55:00 +0000

My wonderful friends set up a few ways that people can help Jewelyn's family.

A P.O. box (thanks Kim!) was set up to accept formula checks (any brand, even checks that are expired!), diaper coupons, or gift cards -- basically anything that can fit in an envelope. Anything not used will be donated to The Liz Logelin Foundation. Send to:

The Jewelyn Okamoto Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 235971
Encinitas, CA 92023-5971

A memorial fund was set up at Arrowhead Credit Union (thanks, Angelina!), and checks can be made out to The Jewelyn Okamoto Memorial Fund. They can be mailed to:

The Jewelyn Okamoto Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 235971
Encinitas, CA 92023-5971

For those who want to send packages larger than an envelope or shipments from UPS, Fed Ex, etc., please send to:

Brandi Futrell
c/o The Jewelyn Okamoto Memorial Fund
14928 S. Maple Avenue
Gardena, CA 90248

There is also the option to contribute via PayPal, that email address is 4jewelyn@gmail.com.

It is absolutely amazing the out pour of support that we have received for Jewelyn's family from all over the world. Thank you to everyone who has helped to get the word out and thank you for your support.

A call for help

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:12:00 +0000

If you follow my other blog, you know that my friend, Jewelyn, passed away on Sunday, September 27th due to an amniotic fluid embolism, just hours after giving birth to her first child, Gabrielle.

Gabrielle is doing well and will be released from the NICU this week. Jewelyn's husband, Philip, is going to need all the help he can get over the coming months and years.

A PO Box has been set up to receive formula checks and diaper coupons. Any and all brands will be accepted, and whatever Philip doesn't use will be donated to the Liz Logelin Foundation.

Formula checks and diaper coupons can be sent to:

Jewelyn Okamoto Memorial Fund
PO Box 235971
Encinitas, CA 92023-5971

All the Single Babies

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:38:00 +0000

Just too cute!!

Hello again!

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:49:00 +0000

Wow, it has been some time since I have posted on this blog. I had a baby and life has changed. I worried about losing myself and be so absorbed into motherhood that the other parts of me would be lost. I think that for the first few months while Baby Bear was a newborn it was. Baby Bear needed me so much that I had to be absorbed into motherhood, if I hadn't allowed myself that I would not have been the best mama bear I could possibly be. Is it selfish that I also want to be more than a mother and also be who I have always been? I don't think so and I hope that is not the case.

I love being a mother, it is absolutely amazing. Baby Bear is absolutely amazing and you see more about her on her blog. I have about a month left until I return to work and it is time to focus a fraction of my attention on me. A happy mama = a happy baby.

The one thing I have really wanted to get back into is working out. I have been taking Baby Bear for walks/jogs and going to mommy and Me yoga. But I am not able to workout like I was pre-pregnancy or even to the extent that I did during pregnancy. It is hard to find the time to get back to the gym with a baby who is so dependent on you. So I decided I needed to figure something out.

Today, I started the 30 Day Shred. I've heard so much about it and wanted to try it out before I got pregnant. I started with level 1 and that kicked my butt. I realize that it has been some time since I have done a real workout and I had a baby 3 months ago, but boy am I out of shape. I have a month before I go back to work and who knows what my time will be like once I add work back into the mix. So I figured I better get my butt in gear and make the commitment. I feel great! I love working out and feeling the burn. I missed that so much!!

I do still have baby weight to lose, but I am more concerned about toning back up and getting back to being fit. My goal is not to lose weight as much since I am still breastfeeding, but to get back to my pre-pregnancy fitness level.

Happy Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Mon, 25 May 2009 15:13:00 +0000

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!
~Maya Angelou

Prenatal Yoga

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:24:00 +0000

(also posted on Adventures with Baby Bear)

I while back I participated in a yoga video, see blog entry here. Well, I have loved yoga. Yoga practice was a big part of who I was and what I did before I got pregnant. I have been practicing yoga for over 5 years and I continued to practice yoga throughout my pregnancy. Yoga has been wonderful for me. I never took any formal prenatal yoga class, rather I continued to take my yoga class with my favorite yoga instructor, Monica Matthews. I modified my poses to accommodate my growing baby bump.

Yoga is amazing and helped me to feel amazing throughout my pregnancy. It helped with all the aches and pains that accompany pregnancy. It was especially wonderful for back pains and tight hips. The yoga poses helped to keep me strong and flexible; yoga helps you to build awareness of your body and to relax. It has just been absolutely great for me.

Monica asked to take come pictures on me in poses to put on her website. I was absolutely flattered. I was also honored to be in her yoga video which is an awesome yoga video, Yoga - Wherever You Are, for all levels (of course I am a little biased). Here are some of the photos that she took:

Just felt a little earthquake!!

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:54:00 +0000

Did you feel it? It didn't seem real big. But we definitely felt it. Not big but not fun!! We definitely felt it about 45 miles away.

This is what I found on Kcal9.com and here (Thanks Wee):

5.0 earthquake in Los Angeles at about 8:39pm.

EDIT: there was an aftershock of 3.1 at 8:45pm

Procrastination: 2 years later

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:52:00 +0000

It has taken me two years to finally get my wedding dress cleaned. As I have been nesting and getting our home ready for baby bear, I realized that my wedding dress (still in a garment bag) was in the corner of the room waiting to be cleaned. I am not usually a procrastinator, I am usually a planner who gets things done right away. But when it came to getting my wedding dress cleaned I just never got around to it. Well, it is finally off to get cleaned and boxed up. It is definitely time. I loved that dress and although I don't expect Baby Bear to ever wear the dress, I do want to keep it for me.

One of my favorite pictures of my dress:

Happy Mother's Day!!

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and mothers-to-be!!!

Our Anniversary update

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:29:00 +0000

We had a very nice low key anniversary. It was just perfect since we were together. Mr. Bear got me a dozen red roses that were absolutely beautiful and we went to yummy dinner at PF Changs. The food was good and the company was even better. It is hard to believe that not only have we been married for 712 days (Mr. Bear calculated the days), but we met 9 years ago to the day. Mr. Bear said it was a good 9 years and I agree.

At the end of dinner we got our fortune cookies and strangely enough my fortune cookie had two fortunes in it!! It had one for Baby Bear. What are the chance of that? That was pretty cool. It was nice to have Baby Bear with us to celebrate our special day!!

2 years!!

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Today we celebrate our 2 year wedding anniversary!! I can't believe how quickly time has gone. I can't believe that in about a month we will add to our family a beautiful little Baby Bear.

We are pretty simple and low key people. With all that is going on, we are just going to have a nice low key anniversary. What matters most is that we are together. Each day is a special important day knowing that he is in my life. I cherish and celebrate every day we have with each other. I am so happy to be Mrs. Bear and I am so thankful to have such a wonderful man in my life who is loving, kind, and caring. I know that he loves me and that I am important to him.

We enter this new journey in our family as parents together. I know that Mr. Bear will be a great father. I see the love and kindness in his eyes. I see the apprehension and worry as well, but I think that all comes with the territory because I feet it too. I know that this will be something that we will do together. We both want to do what is best for our little girl and we both want to provide a loving home for our family. I love who we are together today and I love what we are going to become as a family in the days to come.

Mr. Bear is the best husband and everything I can ever hope for in a husband and life partner. I love him with all my heart and I look forward to many years to come. I am glad that I have him to share in this journey of life together.

Neglect

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:19:00 +0000

I realize that I have been very neglectful of this blog. Impending motherhood has been all consuming of my mind and body. When I am not working, I am thinking about Baby Bear's arrival and preparing as much as I can. I never knew that the idea of becoming a mother takes over you so completely. But, it does so in a good way.

I always thought that I would be able to retain a part of me that would be independent of motherhood. I still believe that I will (who knows I may be naive in thinking this), but I think it will take some time and at this particular time the changes in my body and hormones have taken over so completely that my needs are not so important as the needs of the new life that is inside of me. It is an amazing experience and feeling.

Many people say that motherhood changes you and I am sure that it will, but I also hope at the same time that I still able to retain who I am. I look forward to the challenges and rewards of motherhood, but I hope it will enhance who I am rather than totally change my entire being, if that makes any sense. I guess time will tell.

I have many thoughts and feelings with the idea of motherhood. Apprehension and excitement is all around this entire experience. Will I be a good mother? Will I continue to be a good wife? Will I continue to be me? So many questions run through my head. In the end this new life will enter the world and it is up to Mr. Bear and I to guide her through life. we are up for the challenge and we are so excited for this little one to enter our lives. But at the same time I am a little nervous about it all. Will there ever come a time where I do not obsess about motherhood and my abilities to be a good mother? Or is this a part of this new phase of my life and a part of who I have become? Hmmm, I wonder.

Happy Earth Day 2009

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:12:00 +0000

What have been doing to be green?

I use reusable shopping bags whenever I go to the grocery store or Target. I do need to get better at bringing a reusable bag when I do other shopping, so that is my next goal.
We recycle.
I use natural cleaning products, pretty much vinegar is a cleaning staple in our household. I stop using dryer sheets and instead use vinegar in my rinse cycle and use the dryer balls in the dryer. I will definitely continue to do this for all of Baby Bear's clothes. It is better for us and better for the environment.
I receive paperless statements and all my banking and payments are done online.
I always reuse the back side of scratch paper. My work printer has scratch paper in it so I do my best not to waste paper when I do have to print things out.

I know it is not a whole lot considering that I do drive an SUV, but I don't drive much or very far to work. I was riding my bike to work a few days a week before I got pregnant, but at 33 weeks pregnant that is just not going to be very practical. I would like to get back to that again but we will have to see how Baby Bear will change things.

I know there is so much more that I can be doing and I will keep working on it. I do try to be cognizant and chose to be more earth and green friendly when I make choices on a daily business. But I do have to admit that I am not always good about it.

I love my cat

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:49:00 +0000

Chase Monster is just the best cat ever!! He may not be the most affectionate cat in the world but he definitely loves me. I truly believe that animals can sense when you are pregnant. Lately, he has been by my side a lot more. He knows that something is up and that I am moving quite differently than normal. Well, basically I am waddling.

Here he is looking outside and watching the birds. He can easily push the screen door open and make a run for freedom. But he would never leave the comforts of home and his mama bear. He just loves me too much.

Here you can see his bigness in proportion to the door.

He has never ever even made an attempt to go out, but I often wonder what he is thinking about as he looks out. Out there there is no bed for him to sleep on and no one to feed him when he meows. He must know how good he has it. He is the king of the house and so so spoiled (Baby Bear may disrupt that a bit).

Chase Monster could never be an outdoor kitty, he just doesn't have the street smarts, nor would he be able to run and jump fences as other skinny kitties would. He is big boned and not much of a runner.

Happy Easter!!

noreply@blogger.com (sherthebear) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0000