Every Girl Deserves Her Own Wind Machine

I don’t know why I love this video. It was a fairly ordinary moment (it was hot in the car, so we rolled down the windows). I guess it’s the first time we’ve done it since Clara had any hair to speak of so it was a whole new experience for her. I love watching her go from being slightly confused by it to totally loving it – especially somewhere around 30 seconds in when she gets all “shampoo commercial” on us.

Atta girl.

Clara Conversations

Convo #1
Clara (out of nowhere while riding in the car): Mommy, can I push your buttons?!
(we looked all around and realized she was referring to our water cups from Wendy’s in the cup holder, and she wanted to push down the circles on the top of them for diet, cola, etc – so we handed mine back and she pushed them down).
Clara: Daddy, now can I push your buttons?!

Convo #2
Clara: My bottom doesn’t hurt because I didn’t fall down. But my dolly’s bottom hurts because she tripped on a dinosaur.

Convo #3
Clara (singing to a song that she was making up as she went along): Merry Christmas to your friendsssss! And you love yourselffffff.

Convo #4
Clara (out of nowhere while we were all eating dinner): Daddy, what’s cool about snakes?

Convo #5
Clara’s teacher: … and then our caterpillars are going to break out of their cocoons…
Clara: And that’s going to make a really loud noise! And it might scare me!

Aquatoberpril

Don’t worry, I don’t know how to pronounce that blog post title either. It’s just a nod to the fact that my  “Aquatober” challenge - where I try to spend the entire month of October drinking water instead of soda and other sugary drinks – has extended itself all the way through April. Hence, Aquatoberpril.

In my original post about Aquatober I noted that I have varying success every year I try to detox myself (and my wallet) on all of the soda I consume (it’s my liquid vice of choice). Some years I don’t make it the full month. Some years I make it a bit further. Well, this time I’m still going strong some six months later – minus a milkshake I made myself the other day.

I don’t say this because I want a bunch of virtual pats on the back or expect someone to round the corner with a trophy. I mention it because it taught me something new this year. It was the first time I ever mentioned it to anyone beyond my immediate friends or family. And suddenly I felt much more compelled to stick to it. Something about declaring it to the blogosphere made me more committed than ever to not slip up and apparently to not give up – even once November rolled around. It wasn’t like I expected a public shaming if I opted for a Coke one night (heck, it’s not like you’d know) but the enthusiasm you guys showed for it in your comments was apparently a strong motivator to me.

It’s funny because there haven’t been lots of visible rewards for being soda free for six months. Sure, there are probably some extra dollars in my bank account from weeks of just ordering water at restaurants. My dentist might like me a smidge better. But overall I haven’t noticed my energy being way up, my skin being more lustrous or whatever and I certainly haven’t dropped weight (although the book tour might be to blame thanks to all the cupcakes). I think the main satisfaction I’ve gotten is the confidence that I can muster up some willpower when I need to. I can stick to something and I can create a new habit. So I wanted to thank you for your role in that, whether you realized you were helping or not.

Oh, and I’m totally not making any promises about giving up soda for good from here on out. We’re about to enter those hot and humid summer months where all my body wants is something cold and distinctly not water tasting. Anyways, what’s keeping you guys motivated these days? Or, if you’ve ever given up soda, did you notice any big differences from the experience?