Lunch at Monterrey

Now that I am home full time, I miss my occasional lunch with friends during the work day. Let's be honest, three little kids tagging along on a lunch date....

Yeah, but I am super mom!

So one day I pick up Brayden from preschool and feeling a bit overwhelmed about how fast Kalyn is growing, I stopped quick at kidding around to get some bigger clothes for her. My friend Denise called and had the rest of the afternoon off and asked if I wanted to do lunch.

Heck yes I did!

Monterrey was right there.

Brayden was throwing down chips and cheese like I had never fed him in a million years. Nolan was eating too and my sweet Kalyn slept through the whole outing. Then Brayden chugged his extremely thick and rich chocolate milk. Yum! I tell Brayden for the hundredth time, "no more chips!!" I don't know about you, but my kids are good and listen-HA!

Out of the corner of my eye I see Brayden sneak another chip. Then he starts whining and coughing. I tell him he is ok, take a drink, calm down....

BARF..... Yep, everywhere.

So as you can imagine, I grab him sprint to the bathroom, strip him down, and clean him up. His underwear was the only survivor. So I carry him out to the car in his undies (who would have guessed right malissa!) drive the van up by the door, and leave him there while I grab the other two kids.

Yep. This happened to me.

Looking back a couple of funnies along the way. One the kid's pediatrician witnessed the whole thing. Two my friend that was with me cannot stomach puke, so I am thankful she didn't join Brayden. Three I was starting to get a bit over confident on my super mom abilities and what a great way for God to bring me back to reality eh?

It took me a good month or more to even feel the slightest bit of a craving for Mexican food. And yes, I did leave them a big tip!!!!!

A Day In The Life....

What do we (sahm) do all day you ask? Well I can't speak for everyone of course but here's what our days look like.

8 wake up.Put laundry in. Make breakfast for boys (yes, hot breakfasts often as I can--this is their favorite meal and will both eat just about any type of breakfast food!) nurse Kalyn, get every one dressed, teeth brushed, hair done, diapers changed (two for a little bit longer)then I get myself ready and out the door for preschool (tues/ thurs) and then the YMCA. Switch laundry.
10:30 leave the y, run errands (groceries, bank,post office, pick up brayden from preschool, etc) then we come home. I start lunch and nurse Kalyn while the boys play, read books, dance, sing, play outside, color, play play dough, etc. eat lunch. School work, play some more...change more diapers and assist bottom wiping! Lol
1pm nap time.... This means I pick up lunch, do dishes, shower, plan supper, work, and return calls, put groceries away, etc
3:30- kids wake up.nurse Kalyn. Change more diapers, put away clothes, ride bikes, play outside, go to park,watch a movie, etc. wait for daddy to come home!!!

This is roughly what we do. Of course, there are play dates in there and more school work/coloring , painting, activities for learning as you can imagine. I blog and Facebook while I nurse and plan the evenings activities as well. The kids help put clothes away and other chores.

We are loving our new schedule though we do miss Penny and the kids!!

What do u do all day!?

Picky Eaters

So I have picky eaters. I am picky and it has taken almost thirty years to expand my horizons in the food area. (thank you pampered chef!)

I have tried all the "tricks" in the book. Hide the food in other food. No dessert! Make it colorful. Let them make it. Cut it up really small. Leave it big so they feel like daddy. So.... I let them "go hungry" bc the doctor says they will eat when they are hungry.

I am sick of it. Now I know what my mom went through when i was little!!

So.... Parents out there, tell me your secrets!!!!! This mom would really appreciate it!!!

Weight

So when you have a baby,you gain weight-if you are normal. When you breast feed you have weight carried around until you stop breast feeding. Well, I have used this for an excuse for the last 4 years. As my previous post stated, yes, I am nursing Kalyn. This time, however, I am also working out! I am fine carrying an additional ten ish pounds until next February, but the other 13 lbs can go away!!! Yep, I have WEIGHT that I have carried around with me since I got pregnant with Brayden! So, readers, hold me accountable, not hostage. Let me have the occasional beer IF I go to the gym five days per week like a good mama. I am committed to running the 5k for Dam to Dam (as long as I don't get pregnant! Lol!!) my mom is going to run it with me!!!

So.... Hold me accountable. Encourage me!(in a nice way) and even though I don't "check in" via Facebook at the YMCA, you can find me there between 9-11am Monday through Friday!

Central girls make awesome babies!!! Just sayin'!!

Breastfeeding

So, I have recently read and received some great info about breastfeeding. Did you know that only 2-5% of women actually cannot breast feed? Most women opt not to from the birth of their baby or try until it doesn't work with their family's needs. I also read that babies that are bottle fed have a greater risk of obesity later in life because they don't stop when they are full, they finish their bottle.

I am not writing this post to say which method is right or wrong for each family. I just want to express why I do.

Guys...(and gals) if this kind of stuff grosses you out, stop reading here.

I nursed both of the boys for at least ten months and they had breast milk for a year. With the boys, I nursed them while I was on leave from work and then they got bottles at daycare and I nursed them in the morning, after work, and before bed (as well as every feeding on the weekends). With Brayden, I had several set backs (mastitis, had to use a nipple shield, and Brayden had reflux and a healthy appetite). I also had a significant amount of weight gain. However, I had a great support system-my friends, a coworker,my mom, mother-in-law, husband, and daycare provider. Same situation with nolan except I had less of a weight gain but I was still up about 22 lbs when I got pregnant with Nolan. Nolan started refusing breast milk bottles when I stopped nursing him. We had to supplement him with formula bottles starting at ten months.

I feel like I let the boys down by returning to work. Kalyn was 4 weeks early, but she has been my best baby in regards to nursing (and sleeping, self-soothing, bathing, etc). I am so thankful that I am able to stay home this time and nurse her.

Reasons I chose breast feeding over formula:

I didn't want to spend the money on formula when I was capable of producing milk.
I didn't want to invest in a bunch of bottles and nipples.
I didn't like the idea of putting a processed powder into my baby even if formula has come a long way over the years.
It felt easier to nurse my babies rather than get up make a bottle and then feed the baby.
Since my babies were all born via c-section, it helped me with bonding and feeling important.

I do not care how quickly I lose the weight from my babies (as long as I lose it the right way) As long as I am eating healthy, nursing, and providing nutrition for my baby for the first year.
I do not need to be at a certain weight as long as I am healthy, feel good, and can keep up with my kids and husband.
FYI it takes 40 weeks to put the weight on, it is going to take at least that long to get the weight off.

My plan:(so you can all hold me accountable)
I am going to (and have been) exercising between 9-11am at the YMCA while the kids are in the child care part of the YMCA. They love it, it's relaxing for me, and we are all in great moods when we head home afterwards.

So.... Nursing moms, you are awesome! You are doing great! I am proud of you because it is NOT easy devoting your body to your babies for twelve long months (for each baby)

Non nursing moms, I do not think that you are any less wonderful mommies! I think that you too are doing great and should be proud of the decisions you make for your babies and family too!

Nolan's First Dentist Appt

It sounded like a great idea last fall...to schedule the kids' appts the same time/day. Well .... That was before Nolan turned into the crazy, monkey climbing, fearless almost two year old. From the time we walked in until the time we walked out, Nolan was climbing on stuff, hanging from stuff, and getting into everything. I don't really know how to accurately describe it. The only way to fully understand that I am not over exaggerating is to experience it yourself!! So, I am taking applications!!!

Oh the boys' teeth looked great by the way!

Good Friday

So I know this seems a little backwards but I have to post about the great Friday we had on Good Friday! My friend and roommate from central college came to visit with her kids!! Malissa, Zane, and laney came to play for the day. Zane and Brayden has the most fun ever!!! They have similar interests and personalities!! Brayden even let Zane drive the gator!!! It was Zane's first time and I think he loved it!!! Laney (1 yr this month) even let me snuggle with her and she fell asleep! Such a cutie patootie!! Though we haven't seen each other since our friend Sarah Stockton massey's wedding, two ish years ago, we jumped right back into it like we had just seen each other the day before! We had such a great time!!

He is Risen

Easter! I cannot wrap my ahead around the intensity of the meaning of Easter.

We celebrated by spending time with our family. I wasn't sure what to expect when we woke up on Saturday morning sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and super tired. Jon played golf. The kids and I visited the nursing home where mama sue works and then had lunch with daddy and his friend. Then onto nana's for some more fun!! The boys had fun blowing bubbles, playing basketball, doing an Easter egg hunt, and watching a new movie! Brayden got a new "cy coat" just in time for the spring game next Saturday.

Hope you all were able to spend time with family and good friends!!

House...

Two posts in one day! Aren't we lucky! Well, I wanted to post about this and while it's fresh on my mind. We fit in our house now, but we are in the process of outgrowing it. We like the idea of living in a smaller school district. Right now, we are in wdm (valley) school district. If any of my friends or family out there has any input on school districts in the DES moines area, let me know! Right now our sights are on Bondurant. Our house is listed FSBO for now, but if anyone knows someone looking, let me know! We still fit for now and we do love our home, so it would be bittersweet moving out.

Thankful Thursday

SO many things to be thankful for today!  I am thankful my husband doesn't snore!  I am thankful I have 3 (fairly) well-behaved children.  I can take the three of them out in public without having any major meltdowns (remind me to tell you about our last trip to Monterray!).  I take them all with when we have doctor appts, dentist appts, etc.  They really are good kids!  I am also thankful for my "new job." It gives me the flexibility to come and go as our schedule allows and it also gives me the opportunity to help people out.  I was able to help out a good friend today who needed some back up for about 30 min.  They live right by Brayden's preschool which made it a piece of cake!  Also, Brayden and Nolan thought it was a playdate even though it was only 30 min!  Which leads me to my last item I am thankful for today, naptime!  I was able to get a lot done during naptime today because my kiddos typically take good naps!  I cooked up all 10 (20 halves) chicken breasts in my Deep Covered Baker to freeze to add to our weekday meals.  YUM!