Sunshine


I knew that having a baby in the winter was going to have its pros and cons (more cons than pros in my opinion). One big concern I had was “flu season” and all the fun that brings (public places and “germy” visitors), another concern was being able to get out and get fresh air - and for the baby to have some fresh air - without getting cold and sick. Sometimes January weather is not cooperative and doesn’t allow for having a newborn out to enjoy, but the weather has been amazing the past couple of days here in Greeneville. On Monday, the temps were in the mid 60’s and yesterday we hit a high of 72 degrees. This makes for one happy Mommy.
I know I’m not alone in believing that sunshine is good for the soul. Something about being out in the sunshine helps me in so many ways…mentally, physically and spiritually. Our bodies need to interact with sunshine in order to process and utilize Vitamin D. Vitamin D has many benefits, but one of the most important is its role in the strengthening of our bones. Without regular exposure to sunlight this important vitamin will be unavailable to our bodies.  Routine exposure to sunshine also helps our bodies maintain healthy nerves and more powerful muscles.

Experts estimate that as little as 10 to 15 minutes in the sun each day can dramatically reduce many serious health issues. There aren't many things that can have such an impact on our health that are so easy to do. Not only is it easy to get sunlight, it’s also free. The worry and increase of skin cancer has caused a backlash against spending any time at all in the sun. Of course, skin cancer is a very serious condition, but it is usually caused by failing to protect our skin and extreme amounts of time spent on tanning and other outdoor activities. True health is all about balance. If you eat too much, health problems will occur, just like spending huge chunks of your time tanning in the sunlight will also cause significant health problems (like skin cancer). In moderation, sunshine is in fact, good for the body!

I am so glad that I was able to get Colton out in the sunshine two days this week. I was able to kill two birds with one stone – Colton and I got some much needed fresh air, and Scout had somebody to play ball with. Being able to enjoy the outdoors at the end of January makes the winter feel like it’s passing by a little quicker. I don’t want to wish my time away, but I am very much looking forward to Spring/Summer. Since we’re still only heading into February, I’ll just be thankful for the sunshiny days we do get between now and then. Yes...sunshiny is a word!!!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Made It

Image
Full term - I never thought I would be so happy to hear those words! Even though we have about 3 more weeks to go, as of Friday, December 7 th , I reached week 37 and Colton reached full term. Most babies at this point weigh about 7 pounds and are measuring around 20 inches long (of course this varies between babies, some weighing more or less).   He is most likely between the size of a wintermelon and a miniature watermelon and either way, I’m just happy that we reached this point with no complications. This week, I’m finding it harder to sleep due to the fact I can’t get comfortable for long periods of time. Leg cramps are an almost nightly routine now and my lower back has starting letting me know it’s tired of the extra weight. I read that the quality of sleep in the third trimester is worse than any time before, but I’m probably going to be thankful for the little sleep I am getting, once Colton is born. Today is my weekly doctor’s appointment and I’m excited to s...
Read more

A Sawmill - Good for the Soul

Image
Forklift Operator I don't know if there's anything more awesome than watching my child experience things that I got to experience in my childhood. For those of you who know my family and my background, you know that I was raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina (and when I mean in the mountains - I mean literally, IN the mountains)! We lived on a dirt road near my Grandparents and my Uncle Pat and Aunt Teri. My family ran a sawmill and raised a small patch of tobacco, so my sister and I made lots of toys out of sawdust (makes great toppings for dirt pizza), mud (cupcakes), sticks, slabs, horse buggies and everything else we could get our hands on. We spent lots of time outside. Not only were we just outside playing, but we were learning to work and to be involved and interacting with our family. It was our life.  We don't live in the mountains of North Carolina anymore, but we live right over the hill, in Tennessee. My family still runs a sawmill and I...
Read more

Brining

I could say I have never heard of the word "brining" before, but that wouldn't be 100% accurate. I think I've "heard" the word but I haven't ever paid attention to what it was...until now! I got a few chicken breasts at the grocery store the other day and I was looking for new ways to bake them. I always bake them because it's supposed to be "healthier" (even though I usually have a bowl of ice cream for dessert)! So I was looking on the handy-dandy Internet for baked chicken recipes when information "popped up" about brining chicken. Curios, I clicked on the link and began reading. For those of you who have been doing this already, you're probably thinking "welcome to the club" but for those of you (like me) who haven't - here's the deal. Brining makes cooked meat moister by hydrating the cells of its muscle tissue before cooking, via the process of osmosis. The salt and sugar in brine make changes to pr...
Read more