Fitness Check-In

Well this month has been a month of good and bad in the fitness/clean eating department.

The Good:

• I lost 5 pounds!
• I am still doing Pilates 2x/week
• I started working out on the elliptical
• I'm getting so much stronger
• My clothes are fitting better

The Bad:

• Um...I gained 5 pounds right back.  I got lazy people.  I had to miss Pilates for a week and a half, which totally derailed my motivation.  I absolutely feel better when I work out, no doubt about it.
• We ate out a few times (burgers, drinkies, pizza, mexican, drinkies)
• I finally got the hang of making my own cake balls.  It took a few tries.  Hence the weight gain?
• I was not consistent with the elliptical.
• I ate like pure crap the past 2 weeks.  

One night I was sitting on the couch, watching tv, wondering "Hmmm, what else can I eat?" while I watched Downton Abbey.  (BTW, I still can't believe Lady Sybil is gone and from Ecclampsia?!?) Anywhoo, I comforted myself saying it had been a stressful 12 days with the Hubs working and THAT'S why I was eating bad food.  But then a voice inside my head said "It's not your babies shoving crap in your mouth!  It's not your husband shoving crap in your mouth.  It's YOU."  

I have a love/hate with the voices in my head.

I think this is a good check-in point, at the end of the month.  To evaluate what went right, what went wrong, and what I need to work on.

So for February, I need to work on:
1. Meal Planning!!!  I keep saying this and don't do it, but I know it would make life easier.
2.  Elliptical 3 times per week.  Minimum.
3.  Making good choices when eating out.
4.  No more cake balls.
5.  Track all food in My Fitness Pal  (I've been so inconsistent with this)

If there's one single word I need to focus on, it's CONSISTENCY.  I think I got cocky with that 5 pound weight loss and then went a little nuts.

To put it in perspective, I was tracking my food in MFP this morning and I made a big, pretty healthy breakfast (scrambled egg white, turkey sausage, blueberries, whole grain toast, coffee...and a glass of OJ *oops*).  MFP told me I would reach my GOAL weight in 5.5 weeks if I ate ONLY THIS every day.  ????  And?  I'm already WAY over my recommended sugar intake for today (ah, thank you OJ and coffee creamer).  WTH?  A good reminder that I need to be stricter with my sugar intake.

Morgan's version of our breakfast.  I did not have the Elmo plate ; )

A friendly reminder on my refrigerator door

This Week

I am going to sound like a broken record - and believe me - I'm tired of even thinking about it - but, my kidlets were sick AGAIN.  Morgan went to the doctor on Saturday and Joey on Monday.  Both have ear infections and Joey's RSV is back too.  Morgan was the sickest I'd seen her on Saturday morning, 103 fever and just plain pitiful :(

We know the Fishies ("SiSHEES") at the Pediatrician's office all too well

A stronger antibiotic for both and we are on the road back to health.  *I hope*  Morgan's back to being her fun & silly self.  Joey is sleeping more (because he wasn't sleeping well at all when he was sick), so I take that as signs we are headed in the right direction.

Passed out on Mama's chest.  Couldn't wait another second for his bottle.

I had a discussion with the Pediatrician we saw Monday regarding Morgan's school.  He said he's not telling me what to do, but after seeing we've been in SIX TIMES since Christmas...in not-so-many-words suggested it might be wise to withdraw her.  And so I did.

I'm still in denial because aside from the constant sickness?  There were so many wonderful benefits.  It gave us structure to our weeks.  It gave us some place to BE.  It was good for Morgan's social interaction and intellectual stimulation.  They exposed her to so much at that school in the form of music, dance, learning, books, arts & crafts, etc.  But I guess the germ exposure outweighs all that.  So for now...we are hanging at home, getting everyone fully healed.

We still have Teeter Tots on Wednesdays and I'm signing us up for another 5 weeks I decided.  Plus I'm just starting to meet some other seemingly-cool moms.  It's hard to connect much though when you are chasing your toddler around.

Morgan continues to say new things every day that just blows us away:

• "Oh Hi Bubbles...how are you?"  (While in the bath tub)  **WHERE did she get this??**
• When I told her it was time to get out of the tub she smiled and said "Oh MAN!!!" (I think she gets this from Swiper on Dora?)
• "Hold you?  Mama, Hold you?"  "Hold ME.. Hold me"  (She is ALWAYS wanting to be picked up by ME and only ME lately.  Well, for a while now.  I wonder when this little phase will pass?)

She loves giving kisses, especially through the railing on the stairway and through the baby gates, haha.  And she's really entering that Mommy role now with her babies and even with Joey.  She'll say "Hi Doey, How are you?" and give him a kiss on top of the head.  SO precious.

She was hugging & babying Dora, talking in the sweetest voice, saying "Awww, Do-Wa". 

This face?  Gets me every time.  

Mama/Joey time rolling around on the floor being goofballs.

Kisseeeees

Our Date Night - we went to a surprise birthday party - the kind where they turn off all the lights and yell "SURPRISE!!". It worked, lol!!  It was nice to get out.  There were definitely some um...interesting people out.

We did it.  23 Months Rear Facing.  My back could no longer take lifting & positioning her in her seat with her legs jumbled up, so front facing we are now.  Please don't call CPS on me, haha.

So that's about all that's new around here.  I'm still Pilate-ing it up.  I'm still hating January and thanking the good Lord it's about over.  Looking forward to Valentine's Day and a 2nd Birthday Party and....a Mommy/Daddy long weekend getaway we have planned.  Sleeping in?  What's that?  It's only been 2 years, lol!!

TGIF

Soooooo happy it's Friday!  We stayed in all day yesterday since it was SO cold out.  We read LOTS and LOTS of books and probably watched too much Dora & SpongeBob.  

I tried a little photo sesh since both my Littles had Vday-themed outfits on.  But they weren't nearly as into it as I was.  So while I didn't get that "perfect shot", I got a lot of cute ones.  Seriously, I could just smooch on them all day long.

Trying to give baby brother a smooch on the cheek

Morgan is OBSESSED with my slippers right now.  "Slippas?  Slippas?  On Feet Mama!" 

 Morgan's saying a ton of cute/new things.  This week, I cracked up when I heard her call out "Elmo....Way HAR YOUUUUU?"

I think Joey's starting to feel a little better.  His cough got so bad that he threw up the other night.  At 12:30 am.  AFTER I had bathed him.  So back into the tub he went, poor little guy.

It's snowing today.  Hoping the roads don't turn into another 90-something car pileup like they did on Monday - if you didn't hear about that in Cincinnati already. Wow, what a MESS.  Anyway, this week I decided it was high time I found Joey a proper WINTER coat.  I got this one at Babies R'Us on clearance and it is SO cute and SO warm!!

I'm starting to get some ideas together for Miss Morgan's 2nd Birthday party, which is rapidly approaching!  I just need to decide a theme:  Dora?  Or Elmo?  Or neither?  Go with something pretty that Mama wants? Because the next few years I have a feeling she's going to be very opinionated about what she wants (and there will be time for all that character nonsense then)...  At any rate, I think we are keeping it relatively small.  *I think*

And this weekend Joe & I are having a date night!  I. Cannot. Wait.  Hair will be down.  High heels will be worn.  Full makeup shall be donned.  Adult beverages will be consumed.

Oh, and if you could, please say a prayer for my cousin & his fiance's baby; she was born this week, prematurely at 24 weeks :(  Little Miss Bailey is fighting for her life and so far, I'm told, holding her own.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Is it just me or is January coming to an end at a snail's pace?  Could it go any slower?  That said, it's cold.  Everywhere (except Florida, I hear).  And in the forecast, while today's temp was 16 degrees, it's showing 61 degrees for Tuesday.  Where am I living?

Enough chat about the weather.  Joey's RSV is back and boyfriend sounds awful.  That lone tooth popped its way through.  He's been miserable this week.  Awake every night at midnight.  And then again around 6am.  I had it so good before!!

Morgan has been one word this week:  Delightful.  And no, I'm not being sarcastic.  All her canines have poked through, she's been sickies-free for more than a hot minute, and she is just so much fun right now.  Hilarious too!  Her teacher even commented at school how much of a change she's seen in her since Christmas break, that she's really come out of her shell.

I made it to a MOMS Club meeting FINALLY and had a nice couple of hours to run some errands alone.  I got my sitter for the meeting because of Joey's RSV, didn't want him exposing other kids.  Plans for the week have fallen through (working out, brunch with a friend) so I shop adjusted accordingly.

L-R:
1. Morgan's "Cast of Characters" + 2 blankies that we must bring to and from her crib every single day.  It's getting to be quite a load to haul and she will call you out on it if you "forget" even one.  I've tried.  I'm just her pack mule.
2. Joey's expression after Morgan gave him a kiss.
3.  I used a gift card to Babies R'Us to get Joey this learning cube thingy.  So far, he likes it!  And it's helping him to work on his sitting-up skillz.
4.  Morgan loves squeezing into tight spaces now.  Here she is under our counter top, between my legs.  She was totally just hanging out while I drank my coffee, lol.
5.  I heart this boy in this shirt. Love Bandit fo sho.
6.  Dirty face girl.  Every meal pretty much looks like this.
7.  A serious sibling discussion.
8.  Roses to get me through the week to the weekend, when Joe is finally OFF.
9.  Gorgeous winter sunsets seen from our front door.

In other news, my post-postpartum hair is a tragedy these days.  It didn't help I got a bad haircut (which my husband's aunt tried to fix, but there wasn't a lot she could do with it), but it's all been falling out.  I tried to go blonder, but it just got really dried out.  I'm hoping vitamins will help a sister out!  Pregnancy hair was so amazing.  But I'm not that desperate for great hair again just yet, haha!

Weekend Recap

I have FINALLY begun the steps necessary to turn this little ole' blog into a book.  A Family Album, if you will.  I think it's all my kids are gonna get in terms of memories (sorry guys!).  (On another note, does anyone print out pictures and put them in a book anymore??)

Anyhoo, on to our weekend:

She found her old sunnies and has been wearing them nonstop

Showing brother her Baby.  He was VERY interested ; )

Sibling love on the couch.  He had a grip on her and wouldn't let go!  She, on the other hand was  frozen in stone with a look on her face that said "How much longer do I have to sit here???"

With a lot of coercion, she gave baby brother a kiss.

The start to my gallery wall.  After 52 nail holes...gah!

The scene in my living room.  I swear my kids are in that mess somewhere!

I tried my coffee black.  And then I went out and bought more creamer.

We roasted some butternut squash for Joey

*Voila!*

We went to the library for story & crafts

We went all out and put up one Valentine decoration.  Yes, one.

We learned more about our camera.

I snuggled with my favorite girl

And snuggled with my favorite boy

It's cold as Minnesota here today so I'm keeping the munchkins inside.  Thinking its will be a good evening to  fire up the fireplace!  Stay warm!!

Big Stuff

The most exciting news of all around here....

Joey got his first tooth!!  It cut through yesterday on the bottom left.  His first tooth, at 6 months and 3 weeks old.

My sweet sweet boy.... part of this makes me so sad...he's growing up.

I am completely and utterly in love with this little boy!!!!

I can hear on the monitors that my munchkins are up from their naps.  I think we'll get out of the house again...maybe make a Target run ; )  Happy Weekend All!!

Friday Randomness

Clever post title.  I know.  

Not much exciting happening, but maybe that's a good thing.  The babes are mostly healthy again and life is good.  So here is another post of my kids - you can bet Morgan will be in the kitchen, sippy cup in hand for most of them from here on out.  And Joey will be corralled by some sort of device whether it be walker or car seat.

Daddy is concerned about Joey's Dora time.  He wants me to go out and buy him some balls and trucks, stat. Haha!

 Morgan is repeating EVERYTHING we say to her now.  At almost 23 months, she can say pretty much any word we throw at her.  It's such a fun stage!  She is also very curious, asking "What's That?" all.the.time.      She is starting to use words appropriately and putting 2-3 words together very well now.

Removing her shirt for pasta last night was the best decision I've made all week.

 Examples of things she is saying "Mama, Hold You?" (She wants me to hold her.  Last night I was messing around and told her to sit on the couch so she could hold me.  I tried to sit on her lap, but she just laughed and pushed me off, lol!)

"Aw, Dora!"  "No Elmo!"  (I don't know what that's all about, but it sure is funny to listen to!)
"Dora Shirt" "Me Monkey?" "More Juice Tee-Too (thank you)", "Mama Car Bye Bye?" And the cutest right now has to be hearing her say her own name.  "Mo-keen".  When I ask her what my name is she just says "Name".  I guess there are a lot worse things she could be calling me, lol.

Anytime I pull out my phone now, she orders her picture taken by saying "Mama, DEEEEESE!"

Also, I'm not sure she always knows what she is saying.  Last weekend, I asked her if Daddy made her breakfast and she said "Yesss."  I asked "What did he make you to eat?"  She said "Eggs and Tose"  So I asked the Hubs (because he often does make her scrambled eggs when he's off) and he laughed and said "No, but I gave her Cheerios."  Ha, silly girl!

The past couple of days she's really interacting with Joey more and more finally.  When he's in his walker, she'll come up to him and bring him toys.  Which he promptly knocks to the floor.  She picks them back up, laughing the whole time and they repeat this process several times.  It's so darn cute to see the two of them playing together.

This guy makes a good shopping buddy at Hobby Lobby.  But I only get a short window of opportunity.  Typical man.

In her Monkey Valentine outfit for school this morning.

I could eat him up.  Seriously.

This weekend the Hubs is working so we likely won't see him.  I have plans to take the kids to a library event where they have story time and some crafts.  These things always sound like a good idea, I just hope I actually go through with it.  But when it's cold outside, we're all in our jammies and Joey is always falling asleep on me, it's sometimes so easy to just say "Ah, we'll just stay home today."  It's wonderful to have that option, but I find myself doing it way too often.  And then every day looks the same and I get frustrated.

Also, Joey, at almost 7 months, is in that in-between stage where he's WAY too heavy to be carried around in his car seat anymore, but not stable enough to sit up on his own quite yet, so I have trouble when we go places.  I usually do end up leaving him in his car seat but it's killing my back.  Our Baby Bjorn also hurts my back after about 10 minutes because he's not small!

I've been working out and am down a total of 5 pounds, but that seems to fluctuate by the day by a solid +/- 2 pounds.  Thank you water weight.  I'm going to try to find 2 more new healthy recipes to try.  I figure 2 is doable ; )  But I need a new series to get into... we finished season 1 of American Horror Story and I don't think season 2 is out on Netflix yet.  So if anyone has any good/addicting recommendations, I need something to get me through my elliptical workouts!

And I know I just got a pair of new workout shoes - but truth be told, they aren't very comfy. I have to break them in more, definitely.  They are cross-trainers too, so they are harder for more support.  But I keep daydreaming about these little beauties, which are super soft, flexible, and light as air:

{VIA}

Pretty sure the Hubs shot that down in a hurry, lol.  He's all "Let's talk about our budget" and I'm all "Let's go shoe shopping and buy another double stroller", haha!