Quick Brayden Update

A new room for Brayden!

The basement "toy room" is now Brayden's new room!  Saturday was his first real night down there.  He slept ALL NIGHT LONG!  We got a monitor and set it up ... now we have one kid on each level of our house....fun fun!

Sunday was not a great night.  He fought us for an hour and a half if not longer.  Monday was hard too.... Tuesday was a little less hard.  Wednesday was MUCH MUCH better.  Here's hoping tonight goes well!!!

Also, I "lost" Brayden yesterday.  I was doing dishes after lunch and the "little" kids were napping so I couldn't yell for him.  I ran around the main level and the basement once and on my second go around, I found him like this:

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Brayden went to bed last night with less fighting.

Thankful that Nolan went into the bathroom and went all by himself!!!!  This is awesome!  Anyone that has boys probably knows what I am talking about!  I admit that I was first nervous when I heard the flush.  I didn't know if a toy or something got flushed down the toilet or what just happened.  There was no mess on the floor.  No wet pants.  This all means that he did ALL THE STEPS by himself!!!  This means we are one step closer to him being more independent.  I am not ready for him to be SO big, but also I AM ready for him to be big if that makes sense!

Thankful (most days) that Kalyn not only knows how to go UP the stairs, she also recently learned how to go DOWN the stairs!  This is a blessing most of the time.  I get a little nervous when she goes down, especially if I am not right there until she learns that she has to be careful because if she's not it's going to REALLY hurt.

I'm SO thankful for our gym membership at the YMCA!

I am SO thankful for SO much more, but because of the SO much more, I have to get going! 

Recipe!

Thinking of trying something new with my Blog... Posting a recipe every so often.  Since I am a Pampered Chef Team Leader (yes, that's right, I promoted!) I cook/bake A LOT and people ask me for recipes A LOT... But I also ask my hosts and guests for recipes as well!  Here is one from my BFF!

95 Calorie Cakes in the Brownie Pan

1 can of pumpkin
1 spice cake mix
1 cup water
4-5 chocolate chips on top
Bake for 20-25 min

That's it!

YUM!

Spring Fever

I am ready for SPRING and Kalyn has a fever.... :(

Just a cold, cough, runny nose type thing, but I am sure ready for it to be gone so Kalyn can feel better!!  She just has this cold that she can't shake and it makes her feel miserable all the time!  I took her in to the doctor and her ears are fine, throat is fine, lungs sound good, white count is normal... so we are just waiting it out for a while longer.

Still doing the PGL thing around here...Preschool, Gym, Laundry.

Nolan news:
I am so excited for Nolan!  WDM offers a free program one day per week for different ages. The program is called Brighter Beginnings.  Nolan's starts on Tuesday! He gets to have preschool for an hour and fifteen minutes while Kalyn and I are visiting with the other parents about different parenting subjects. :)  Also, he is signed up for 3 year old preschool in the fall!! Two and a half hours per day three days per week! I am SO proud of Nolan!  Nolan has been potty trained for 7 months now!  He is such a big boy!  He is a great sleeper.  He hasn't been sick (except for the flu that hit all of us!). He is a good listener.  He is ornery! He is SO silly!  He dances and carries on for the store check out ladies, nurses at the doctor's office, and pretty much anywhere else we go!

Brayden news:
*sigh* Well, he is such a sweet, kind-hearted little boy.... and then he turns into MEGA scream/cry monster!  I swear I have two different children in one!  His teachers RAVE about how GREAT of a listener and role model he is at school.  When he gets home it is nothing but whining and arguing with me about everything!  Since his tonsillectomy, Brayden has been claiming to be scared of the dark.  No matter how many nightlights, lights, music, etc we have on, he just doesn't want to be in his room.  He lays on the floor usually until Jon and I go to bed and then tiptoes downstairs and sleeps on the sofa.... not optimal but also NOT in our room/bed.  What to do, what to do!?!?!?!  He's also been telling us that we need to get a new house... SO if you know anyone who'd like to buy this house... let us know.... for Brayden's sake, of course ;)

That's all for now....

The Weaning Process

Most of you know that I am a breastfeeding mom.  Most of you know that it has always been fairly easy for me with a few bumps in the road.  Third time around was the easiest...until now, Weaning time!  The boys were at daycare taking bottles so they could just have cow's milk mixed with their bottles.  Kalyn has taken bottles but not so much recently and therefore doesn't like bottles and would not take breastmilk out of a sippy cup.  So, I tried giving her straight up whole milk.  She tried it and threw her cup like she was saying "OH H*** NO!"  Ha ha ha ha-NOT! Because she is now 12 and a half months old and still won't drink cow's milk.  Our AMAZING pediatrician said to proceed with the weaning process as planned and just offer cow's milk (even skim if necessary since breast milk is not very thick) along with other dairy products.  Today (1/17) is the 3rd day of no nursing at all and so far so good.  The third time may have been the easiest nursing time for me, but certainly is the hardest weaning time....I guess I deserve it.

Fitness and Nutrition

It seems like every time I try to hold myself accountable it always ends in a disaster of some sort! 
We had just gotten home from a FANTASTIC 6 year old's bday party at 8pm-ish last Saturday and I carried Nolan into the house.  I made it all the way up the stairs over by his bed (flat ground, floor was picked up) and I tripped.  Nolan went flying....it was awful.  He was surprisingly ok. He just wanted to go to bed.  Me, on the other hand, could. not. move.  Finally, I was able to get up.  My knee was and still is SO bruised.  I don't *think* anything major happened, but I certainly cannot kneel on it. I made it to the gym the next day, but had to alter my extras during my workout. 

Well, I have been doing better -not everyday and not every meal-logging my food on myfitnesspal.  This is HUGE for me.  I am not great good at it at all!  I have stopped picking up junkie food.  I told Jon if he and the kids wanted that stuff, he would need to pick it up and hide it somewhere.  If it's in our house-I will WANT to eat it and if I don't know it's here, I don't want to eat it :)  So, I took a trip to Trader Joe's the other day.  It is a great store.  So glad I stopped by.  AND they are VERY friendly and helpful-anyway the lady I spoke with was.  Plus, she gave me a free reusable bag and suckers for the kids.  It was a great experience.  I loved everything I bought.  Crackers, chipotle hummus, flatbread, chicken, deli meat (turkey), greek yogurt, and some granola bars (oh and chocolate covered cherries and caramels... that was my last purchase of junk-I promise). 

We also started buying milk at Costco!  This is another big deal for our household.  I am an AE kinda gal and to even think about not buying AE milk was really hard for me.  At $2.70/gallon, I don't mind!

So, I've only lost one additional pound since I started, but a pound is a pound!  We have caught the head colds here too-yesterday we were down and out for reals. BUT through it all, I am trying to stay active. 

I am going to do something new -- I am going to wait to tell you all about it until I'm done bc I don't like to recommend anything if I haven't tried it myself. SO.... stay tuned.

Flu- Round Two (for me)

I had the stomach flu pretty bad on December 14th.  Kalyn had a minor case on December 30.  Well, Jon decided to come down with it EARLY on January 1st.  I took the kids to my mom's thinking we would give him time to recharge and get better (and clean and sanitize the house so no one else got it!!!) Well, we were almost finished with supper and Brayden got the bug.  No more than 15 minutes later, Nolan started throwing up too! I thought "Maybe, just maybe I can make it home..." SO glad I didn't try or our van would have been NASTY!  SO, Jon came up and helped hold pans and comfort the sickies because before Jon made it up to my mom's, I joined in on the fun too! 

In one word: AWESOME *note sarcasm.

Hears to a healthier new year!!

Birthday Girl!!!!

To say Kalyn enjoyed her birthday would be a complete understatement!  She was spoiled rotten by friends and family.  We had an overwhelming turn out for her party despite it being right after the holidays and SUPER cold outside!  Our house is TOO small for everyone to be in one room, but THANKFULLY we just run wild through the whole house!

Kalyn is 29 3/8" tall (57%), weighs 21lbs 9oz (76%), and her head cir is 18 3/8" (90%)

If you haven't been to my facebook page, go there!  Sarah (www.sarahmcconnellphotography.net) did a video of Kalyn's first year and it brought me to tears!!  Love her work and LOVE her 1 year photos!!!

Christmas-Better Late Than Never!

We had a very fun Christmas this year!  It was great watching the kids enjoy wrapping paper and boxes... OH and toys!  :) Sickness hit our families around the holidays so our plans were rearranged last minute.  Those of you who know me (planner lady) know that this is SUPER hard to digest, but something that I am working on, so I had to say "OH WELL, whatever works" and move on. We spent the weekend before with my mom and grandma. Jon's mom and brother spent time with us on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Jon had to go back to work on the 26th, but we did have Christmas with my dad on the 27th, so it all was worked out.

A few of the highlights:
Christmas lights at waterworks
Beautiful Christmas Eve service-music, lights, well-behaved kids...
Kalyn enjoyed the wrapping paper and watching her brothers tear in!
Brayden was beyond excited for his Batcave-we have a video-it's hilarious!
Nolan was ALSO excited about Brayden's Batcave and Nolan loved his musically instruments-bongos, etc
The kids have been enjoying new playdough and arts and crafts items. 
Jon and I decided to gag-gift his brother..... PRICELESS!

Hope you all had an amazing holiday season!!!  We sure did!

Brayden

Ugh- he is about ready to have our blessing to move into his own apt!! LOL!!!
Ok so he's only four and that won't be happening for a long time, but I've been up for three hours and it is ONLY 6:30am.

It's not my one year old, not my 2 1/2 year old... No one is sick. Brayden jut wakes up and wants a hug and kiss, or an adult to sleep with him (which we don't do), or most recently a dog to sleep with him (which we won't ever have) and he even says that he wants to sleep at uncle Josh's (which he's never done)! He doesn't politely say these things, he screams them and cries and cries and cries and cries. Like he has colic at age four!
Advice welcome- remember though you don't have all the info and we know Brayden better than anyone but we are too sleep deprived to see a clear picture.
Nap or no nap he doesn't sleep well.
And Nolan and Brayden share a room.... That won't change unless we buy a different house and that won't change unless we can sell this one.

Countdown for bedtime....13 hours away.... I can do this, right??

It's Monday!

After a VERY fun filled weekend, I am REALLY excited for today/this week! We have A LOT going on! Starting today, I am logging my exercise activity and food/water intake on MyFitnessPal (add me! Jse23@hotmail.com). Kalyn has her one year well visit at the doctors office. Brayden has his follow up appt with the ENT. Volleyball starts this week!!!! Nolan starts his tumbling class at the YMCA this week! I have a pampered chef party this week! Brayden's bff's bday party is this Saturday!
A lot of fun stuff to look forward to!!!!
(Also means it will be a challenge for me to say no to cake!!)

Hope you have a great Monday!!

New Year, New Goals, New Resolutions

OK... Our new year did not start the way we thought it would!  Just after midnight, Jon got hit hard with the stomach bug.  The next day the kids and I tried to steer clear of him by leaving the house.  Yup, by evening, the boys and I joined the flu fun!  SO, now that we have had the stomach bug in 2013, we won't have to get it again this year, right?

Our new years resolution: keeping the kitchen countertops cleaned off and cupboards organized.  This might not be an issue at your house.  I never thought it would ever be a problem at our house, but it has just been a control center for EVERYTHING!!!  School work, bills, arts and crafts, Pampered Chef, mail, cups, snacks, EVERYTHING!!! SO far so good!  (less than a week in, but this is the longest it's ever lasted in the past) AND I AM TALKING NOTHING on the countertops!

OK. New Goals.  If you know me, you know that I got FAT right after I got married.  I was pregnant right away and I let myself eat EVERYTHING.  Now, 3 kids later, I am LOSING THIS WEIGHT!  I have used my kids as excuses long enough. I started working out and I did lose 10 lbs after losing the baby weight from my third pregnancy.  I am now in a routine of going to the Y daily with the kids.  One of my goals for 2012 was to be a "gym rat" and develop good exercise habits.  I did that!  And I celebrate that!  I nursed for a year (today) while pushing myself hard at the gym.  See, old self?  It is doable! 

2013 is going to be a big year for us!  I am going to lose the remaining 20 lbs.  I am going to check in weekly.  (Plan is every Friday afternoon), I am going to do before and after pictures and I plan to post pictures, just not today ;) Sorry if that grosses you out, but this is about MY health and feeling good. This is going to help hold me accountable.  I can say how I am feeling about everything, how my workouts are going, how I am eating, and what I am losing.  I have never been big on numbers on a scale, but I am BIG on clothes size and how things are fitting and I have some clothes waiting for me when I am ready to let go of this weight and put them back on!

SO.... Challenge "From Fat to Fit" has started!!!  If you think about it, drop me an email, text, FB msg, or call with encouragement and I promise I will do the same! 

Here's to a great 2013!!

Kalyn is ONE!

Kalyn is one year old today!!!  I remember a year ago like it was yesterday!!!  We went in for an amnio-the office had moved so we were almost late and I was in panic mode.  They were running behind.... Then we went to Methodist to be monitored for 2 hours. I was planning my lunch date with Jon (@ Jethros) when they told us we were having a baby today!  I was prepared for 2-4 more weeks of being pregnant.  OR I was prepared to have the baby the next day.  I was NOT prepared for the baby to come right then!

The biggest shock of all..... the baby...was a GIRL!!!  I think we were all pretty sure we would have another boy and I was certainly prepared for another boy, but not a GIRL!!! :)

Love you baby girl!!!