And while we’re at it, I hate pregnancy hormones too. It seems like one day a week I get in this mood. A mood where even the smallest thing can send me over the edge and bring me to tears, headaches, anxiety, lashing out, and any other unpleasant side effect of PMS x 10,000. Today was my lucky moody day. Of course it would just happen to fall on my most overwhelmingly busy day of the week too.

I hate Mondays. I always have so much to do and it never fails to fluster me just a tiny bit. Which is exactly what happened today. Somehow, even after typing up today’s 30 DSLR post about living life fully, I got caught up in my to-dos and forgot about finding joy in the day. Doh!

Even worse? Feeling overwhelmed with my Monday, I imposed the stress and anxiety I felt onto life as a whole and my future. I have big hopes for my family, myself, and even this blog (nothing crazy big for that though…I am realistic). You can probably tell that I pour a lot of energy into those things I care about. Sometimes my crazy anxiety gets the best of me and makes me question if I’m putting effort into things appropriately and if I’m on the path God wants me on.

I told you pregnancy hormones bring out the crazy in me. Please forgive me for sounding like a whiny two year old. I know its not fun to hear. Especially after dealing with one all day. I don’t know what her deal is. She doesn’t have any hormones to blame for the ‘tude she has been throwing today. She has actually brought me to tears. You think I exaggerate the hormones? You just wait until your time comes.

I assure you that things turned around though.Once I wiped up my second round of tears caused by Makenzie, I took 15 minutes to lay down and breathe…and ignore whatever she was doing at the foot of the bed. I thought about my own message from today and repeated “Do what you can today. God has the plans for your future” to help calm me down. I even ended up writing it on a bookmark to keep with my to-do lists as a reminder.

After that, I slapped on a smile and took charge of my day. I hit up the first round of errands, which included a weekly shopping trip. And guess what I found???

That in and of itself helped bring my mood up! I have searched high and low for some Libbys. I made that grocery trip even better by stopping by for a skim iced coffee on the way home. I needed a little pick me up to sip while getting stuff done after lunch.

Those pick me ups continued as I read through your comments for today’s post. You all really helped me today. You do with each and every one you leave and today meant even more. I think all of that brought me out of my sour preggo mood and helped me finish out the day on a high note. I finished what I needed for today, tutored the great kid I help out, and even fit in a Turbo Jam DVD workout to relieve some stress. No matter what, we have the power to turn things around for the better. Even on a Monday.

• What is your least favorite day of the week? Need I say more after the above?
• Do hormones ever get the best of you? Need I say more after the above? 😉

I forgot to post up links to posts from other bloggers this morning. Check them out!

• Ulterior Harmony
• Simply Maren
• Days One By One

Sometimes I surprise myself with my meals. For a long time, I had convinced myself that every meal must include around 30g of protein to be complete. I downed lots of lean meat and protein shakes and not too many beans (extra carbs – the horror!), tofu (extra fat – the horror), etc. My how times have changed.

Over the past few months I realized that I don’t really love meat, which I should have for as much as I used to consume. I still enjoy meat, but don’t need it. In fact, over this last week most of our meals have been meatless and I haven’t missed it a bit!

Veggie Enchiladas

Whole Wheat Pasta w/ Veggies + Sauce

Tofu, Veggie, Brown Rice Stir Fry

The meatiest we got was a quick, easy dinner of a turkey panini. Tonight, the veg continues with Friday night pizza night. I don’t ever forsee myself becoming vegetarian and I don’t label myself as a flexitarian either. I am just me. I eat foods I enjoy. I eat a variety because it suits me and my family. Just as I can’t stand fish but love raw sushi and fish tacos, there’s no way to describe my eating habits. I have learned that overanalyzing, labeling, and trying to fit my ways to others’ does only harm. I said before I have lots of room for progress and much more to learn. One thing I don’t need to learn any more? Be true to myself.

Happy Friday! Now have some pizza with me…or some sushi for me. 😀 Seriously, that will be one of the first things I devour post-birth!

• What food would you have trouble giving up for 9 months?
• What are some of your special eating preferences? I would say my biggest one is being picky about fish but loving sushi. And I’m a HUGE texture eater.