Happy Birthday Maddox & A Quick Trip Home

This weekend we headed back to my hometown to help one of my BFFs celebrate the 1st birthday of her second son, Maddox.  As a bonus, we got to see all of my HS friends and their families, and spent quality time with my parents, brother and his gf.  I always hate the drive through Indy, but it's always worth it to get just a couple of days at home with the people that mean the world to me.  I was too busy having fun and catching up to take too many photos...but...here are a few:
 
My BFFs (and what I think are 3 hot moms of 6 total kiddos)!  I could not survive life without their love and support!  xoxo

 Birthday Boy!  Happy 1st Birthday Maddox!

 Marina planned a very adorable Dr. Suess-themed fete.  I wish I would have been more proactive with my photo-taking to get some more of the decor.

 Some of the kiddos in their make-shift "fort"

 My mama (aka Grams) and my boy, having a two-person parade.

 B joining in the parade fun (and yes, these are New Years hats)

 The most hilarious bed hed (and my icky profile)

 A quick photo of my little brother and B

A New Look & A New Name

 If you remember my post on blogging envy from the Pour Your Heart Out series, I had expressed a need to update my blog.  Although I'm not quite ready to employ someone to personalize my blog, I'm trying to justify the cost (feeling some selfish guilt), I decided to do a little sprucing myself.  So...let me introduce my first few steps towards a blog face lift.  Hopefully I'll keep making strides.  A blog button and some following tools (facebook, twitter, etc) are up next (if I can figure all of that stuff out).  I did contact my first company, and will have my first giveaway coming soon. 

Hope you like the new look and the new name. 

If you missed yesterday's post, go check out   ourstruggles in disciplining a preschooler.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!  Happy Friday all!

How to Disipline a Preschooler

 

I wish this was a great "how to" post (like one of my most favorite bloggers The How To Mommy), where I give you gobs of helpful advice on how to manage a 4.5 year old, energetic pre-K'er.  Alas, this is just a plea for help.  Any advice, resources, books, websites, personal experiences...anything...would be greatly appreciated.  We just don't quite know what to do. 

So...here's the situation.  We have a very spirited little man.  He has always been very energetic and in need of stimulation, but T has always been very well-behaved.  I'm not just saying this because I'm his Mommy (let's face it, I'm slightly biased).  Friends, family, strangers, they have all commented in the past at what a good boy he is, how polite, how sweet and loving, what a good listener he is.  Unfortunately, that seems to be our sweet boy of the past.  We have hit quite a bump in the road ever since T was closer to turning 5 than being 4.  It's like a switch was turned on, and now we have an argumentative, pouty, disruptive firecracker who likes to push our buttons.  We've been having small issues all year with T not listening to his teachers at preschool and daycare.  He plays the "I can't hear you" card, and just flat out ignores requests.  He's also a classic boy, roughhousing with his friends, wrestling, not keeping his hands to himself, you know...being a boy.  I guess this behavior isn't too popular at preschool.  We don't see much of it at home, because he only has a 10 month old to play with. 

Lately, however, we've been having embarrassing blow-ups when we try to take him home from daycare.  I will arrive to pick him up, excited and eager to see my little monster, and what does T do...he ignores me, refuses to come give me a hug or say hello, then when he does acknowledge me, he begs me to let him stay and play.  It kills me every time.  I have even started to dread the pickup process.  How sad is that?! 

This week was the topper.  Hubs and I went together to pick him up from daycare, and we foolishly thought he'd be pumped to see the entire fam there to greet him.  Instead, he did his best ignoring, ran away from us when we tried to collect him (like literally did the na-na-na dance and dodged us), yelled very loudly that he "liked daycare better than home" ::insert dagger in heart:: and stopped using his legs, so we had to drag him out kicking and screaming with each of us holding an arm.  We tried to discuss it with him, reason with him, took away all his "privileges" (books, bath, cartoons, playing with mom and dad, dessert) and we acted hurt and cold, I even cried (legitimately).  Nothing worked.  Case and point...yesterday, after the aforementioned "blow up", we got news from his daycare teachers that he was 1. pushing his friends 2. disruptive at naptime (talking, singing and even growling ::snicker::) and 3. told his new friend Ellis that he was going to "kill him".  ::die::  Then, in his backpack...just to sink the knife in a bit farther...he came home with this...

Now, on a normal day, when we weren't struggling with his behavior, I would think this was HILARIOUS.  But, it just made me burst into tears after all we've been going through.  He just thinks I'm a cook?!?!  As T would say "he broke my heart".

So here we are...struggling with how to discipline our preschool-aged son, pulling our hair out with what might work to help change his behavior, possibly return our sweet little boy to us, and make him understand how bad his behavior has been.  I'm disappointed in him, and this kills me.  I'm embarrassed of his behavior.  This is very hard to admit.  I'm at a loss for how to get through to someone who seems to have an excuse for everything, a very short-term memory and can't truly comprehend the levity of the situation.  What do I do??  Is there a book out there that can give me the answers I crave?  What are we doing wrong?  ::sigh::

How can this sweet boy be so difficult at times???

PYHO: Because I Work Hard

I'm thin.  I admit it.  I have been blessed with good genes.  My parents are not overweight, my brother is at average weight and I've always been "tiny".  However, age has caught up to me like everyone else.  I have that loose skin that just won't bounce back on my stomach, my belly button doesn't even slightly resemble its younger version, I have spider veins, busted blood vessels and ingrown hairs resulting from carrying two amazing kids (so worth it, though!).  My body shape has been altered due to childbirth.  I'm not the "old me".  My metabolism isn't what it used to be (unless it's being helped along by breastfeeding...bonus!).  I'm not 100% happy with my body...but who is these days?!

However, I'm incredibly sick of people judging me because I didn't gain and not lose the baby weight.  I'm just fed up with those people that slough off my hard work and dedication so they can make excuses for themselves.  I'm annoyed with those that crab to me about how easy it must have been for me to bounce back and how lucky I am to have good genes.  I do have a great start, but, DAMN IT, I worked my ass off (literally) after both pregnancies to get my body back.  I still have to work incredibly hard to maintain.  It was very important for me to feel like ME afterwards.  Plus, I'm a marathon runner.  I have a lot of patient dedication as a result.  I have resolve, I make a commitment, and I don't waiver (which can sometimes be slightly annoying to the people around me...but take it or leave it...it's who I am). 

When I say I worked really hard, I mean, I was consistent, a bit manic and regimented, from the very beginning.  I worked out my entire pregnancy (both times).  With T I ran until 32 weeks, with B it was 35.  I was walking on the treadmill at an incline of 10 the day before I had B.  I was that crazy pregnant woman getting the bad looks from the older crowd, the "she's crazy" faces as I lifted weights 9 months pregnant.  I didn't care.  I wanted to lay down and give up so many times, but I kept going, because I'm a stubborn, type A, workaholic that wouldn't take no for an answer.  Screw you body, you can do this...so do it. 

I didn't just ::poof:: return to my original size and shape.  Not even close.  Those skinny jeans took months to even get over my hips.  I made getting back to the old me a huge priority.  I went for a run just 2 weeks after having a vaginal birth with T.  I was back in the gym 9 days after having B, even starting P90X shortly after.  Today, as exhausted (understatement of the year) as I am as a working mother of two, I MAKE myself find the time.  I pick a weekly schedule and I do my very best to stick to it.  I get up at 4am 2-3 times per week to run.  I drag myself onto the treadmill 2 times a week AFTER the kids go to bed, dead tired, frequently begging myself to just blow it off today.  I get up on my Saturday mornings, while the rest of the family snuggles in bed, to religiously attend my spin class.  I spend the day of rest (Sunday) working out at least a hour.  I work my fricking ass off!  It DOESN'T come easily to me.  I'm so sick of people making excuses for themselves by throwing me under the bus.  I have worked hard, and will have to continue to work hard, to get back and maintain.

So...don't be jealous of me.  There is nothing to be jealous of.  I'm a crazy, manic, regimented workaholic with an endorphin addiction that I just can't kick.  Do I sometimes wish I gave myself some slack?  Probably.  But will I change?  Probably not.  It's because I work hard...that's why.    

This is my HS friend, a fitness guru, and her new pregnancy fitness DVDs!  Shameless plug for Sara! (and yes, she was actually pregnant and looking THAT good!)

Link up with my girl Shell @ Things I Can't Say for Pour Your Heart Out Wednesdays!

My Funny Valentine is 10 months

Age: 10 months!  I can't believe we're in the double digits already!  Slow down time...please!

Stats: 15lbs 5oz at last appt.

Size (diapers, onesies, etc.): Our girl is a peanut.  She can still fit in some 6 months, but is mostly rocking 9 months outfits.  I have been growing bored of her 9 month digs, so I've been pulling out some of the 12 month stuff and trying it on for size.  Most of it is too big, but she can still wear it without stuff falling down.  She's still in size 3 diapers, and they're not snug or at risk of being small right now. 

Sleeping: I'm happy to report, after almost 10 months...B is FINALLY sleeping through the entire night.  We aren't even having to get up to put her binky back in anymore ::big sigh::

Eating: I'm patting myself on the back for making it 10 months with EBM.  I did ask my MIL to start using the formula to mix with her cereal, because I'm not sure how long my supply will hold up.  However, right now...we're still a go on pumping at work (2-3 times) and acquiring enough for 1 bottle, then she gets 1 from my frozen stock.  I have 4 gallon bags left ::gulp:: so that will get me to at least 11 months, I think.  As long as I can keep pumping 1 bottle per day and feeling like I'm satisfying her in the morning and before bed, we'll keep going.  I'm flying high with beating my personal goal of 6 months by a long-shot, and also going well past when I did with T.  From here on out...it's day-by-day. 
She's a table food eating machine, also!  She gets 3 meals and 1-2 snacks now, almost exclusively table foods, very few purees.  I do still have a freezer stock of homemade purees, so I'll either give her some here and there when she's not getting enough veggies -or- I'll give them to my MIL to use in her cereal.  Either way, she's all about moving on to big-people foods.  Her favorites include: mango, any berries (she prefers blueberries), sweet potato pieces, any pasta, peas, carrots, yogurt, bread, cheerios, organic blueberry waffles (plain), perrogis, and cheese.  She isn't too keen on ground beef/turkey, so we're looking for other ways to get her protein.  Ideas???

Milestones: We finally have a crawler!  She started army crawling, now she's mixing army and regular crawling.  We're excited, but scared.  Crib was dropped, as she was flipping and sitting up in bed (that is very new).  B waves and makes kissing sounds.  No progress on the baby signs, but I'm not giving up!  B also likes to play peek-a-boo. 

Favorite toys/activities: We are still trying to break the "hair" habit, but she loves her picnic basket (she loves to pull stuff out), basic ring stacker, activity cube, tea set (open/close/open/close...repeat), her Vtech learning activity walker (she likes to open and close the door and it says "peekaboo I see you") and her vtech laptop (she likes to open and close this one too...see a pattern).

To my sweet little girl,
You will be 1 in just two short months, and I can't believe how much joy you have brought into our lives.  Just a year ago, I was preparing myself to be a mommy of two, enjoying the fun, exciting things girls bring, and so excited to finally meet you.  Now I can't imagine my life without our girl! You're one-of-a-kind, and completely different than your brother in basically every way!  You are a girl who only laughs when things are REALLY funny (like big brother, who you find hilarious), have a very unhealthy obsession with your (and my) hair, you are a huge fan of your nuk binky, you love the car and travel happily everywhere we go, squeal with delight and shake your arms up and down when I walk in to pick you up, eat more than your big brother (huge handfuls), you rub your face/nose in my shoulder when you're tired, then rub your nose with your hand (I know it's "go-time"),  your cry is more of a "huh-aaaaa, huh-aaa" than an actual wail (especially when I can't get the boob out fast enough), you would rather be in my arms than anywhere else in the world (mommy 1st!), when you want more food you DEMAND it with frustrated shrieks, you will only let mommy give you a bath, you will play with mommy's keys and cell phone above all other toys, can smile with your entire face (your eyes just light up), pout and purse your lips out like a duck when you are thinking or timid, wave at everyone and everything, despite my begging you will never reply mama when asked (dada only), hilariously love blowing raspberries/spitting (especially in public), and are truly the most sweet-tempered, laid-back baby who prefers to be with mom, but can go just about anywhere without fuss or risk of a tantrum or blow-up.  I'm so incredibly in love with you, baby girl, and am so thankful you came into our lives.

Your Very Thankful & Blessed Mommy :)

Here's what happens when you try to put a month sticker on a 10 month old... (brace yourself for a baby montage extravaganza :) )

What's this thing, Mommy??

 I'm not a big fan of this sticky thing...it's gotta go

 Hmmm...maybe it will taste yummy

 Oh no, I lost it...

 Here, Mommy, do you want a taste?

 Just kidding...I'm outta here.

 What did you do with that thing?  I can't seem to find it. (Mom's last resort)

 You're so silly, Mommy (the first time I successfully photographed those cute lower choppers)

 If I can't have that fun sticker, can I play with your blackberry??

This tastes good.



 Gotta get going...

A Date, a Craft & a Lazy River Kind of Weekend

I can't believe the time has come to start planning B's first birthday party. Where has the time gone? I'm kind of a nutbag when it comes to planning themed parties. I go a bit, or hubs would say wayyyyy, overboard when it comes to my crafty ideas. I decided B would have a spring garden themed party, which sprung (pun intended) out of her nickname Brynleigh Bug and the fact that she was born in the spring so close to Easter. I went a tad, okay completely, overboard buying spring themed items at Hobby Lobby ::swoon:: and this weekend I made her invites with materials from my other craft love, Michaels. So...without much further ado...here's my handiwork...

On Sunday, we took the kiddos to the local community center to get B in the water before she starts water tots with her Mimi in a couple of weeks.  She hadn't been in the water since she was a tiny baby, so we thought we should take her a couple of times to lessen the blow.  It's also a plus that T gets completely stoked when we take him to the pool.  He's a fish!  I was happy to finally feel comfortable in a suit after almost 10 long months recovering, so that was also a load off.  Needless to say, T was in heaven and B was in absolute hell!  She was terrified.  I felt horrible she was so afraid, literally clinging to me for dear life.  I forged on, and once we got in the water up to her shoulders and went around the lazy river a few times, she seemed to relax a tiny bit.  T, on the other hand, has no fear.  He even jumped off the diving board (at 4.5) into the deep competition pool.  He's such a fearless boy!  It's quite amazing how different raising a girl is from have a boy.  I'm in awe of the personality differences already...but that's a post for another day.  Here are a few pix of our Sunday splashing around. 

B in her new suit from Target.  I love the green so much on her.  Ooooo, and can I also mention my fabulous new Kate Spade Diaper bag that was originally 345.00, but I got for under 100.00 at the outlets, on major clearance!  Score!

 B and me in the lazy river

My loves and me enjoying our Sunday in the water

 Little miss princess exhausted from clinging to me

T man with no fear on the diving board

Hubs and I also got a date night out of the weekend, our second since B arrived almost 10 months ago.  It was wonderful to celebrate V-day with my hubs at Bonefish.  He even wrote me a love note.  Yes, folks, even me...the V-day cynic...can appreciate a good old-fashioned love note.  It was the perfect gift.  My hubs also always sends me flowers to work, which I admittedly enjoy showing off to my coworkers every year:)  We ended our night with a movie, we opted for the Safe House instead of The Vow, which ended up being a great pick.  Give me a little Denzel mixed with some yummy Ryan Reynolds, some Mike n Ikes and some alone time with my hubs, and I'm a happy happy girl!!  All in all, it was a fabulous weekend of library visits, house cleaning (which makes mama so happy), swimming, craft time, and lots of playing with the kiddos.  Life certainly is good! 

How did you all spend your weekends?  Anything you are looking forward to this week? 

We are headed to Chi-town this weekend to see friends and family, and although I wish I could just wish myself there and skip the ride through Indiana, I can't wait!

Doin' the Slithering Snake

Here's some baby book worthy proof that Brynleigh is, in fact, crawling just shy of her 10 month birthday.  It's so amazing to me how different that B is, compared to T.  By this time, T was crawling like the wind, pulling up on everything in sight, and starting to use a walker to take his first steps.  B is content just slithering along on her belly and folding herself into a pretzel to get what she wants. 

Note the one-armed technique

Video proof...excuse the dog...and my annoying voice...


So I don't forget, B rolled herself from her back to her tummy while fighting naptime today, then she fell asleep.  We had never seen her do that before.  Also, when I went to get her after her nap, there she was (for the first time ever) sitting up in her crib just smiling away at me.  Dropping the crib went to the top of the list today!

And of course and extra look at that adorable face :)  ::smooch::

10 Reasons Why I HATE Valentines Day

10.  I'm not very fond of the color red, and red and pink together???  Who thought of that combination?  I realize that it's the colors of the heart and life, but...what about purple??  I'm a purple girl myself.

9.  It's a "Hallmark Holiday".  Lets face it, some big-wig in the card industry got together with some big-wig in the candy industry, and they INVENTED this God-forsaking day.  Then the flower big-wigs wanted in...and voila...V-day.  ::gag me::

8.  I'm not into flowers...they die.  What kind of gift is that???  Such a waste of money, IMHO.  So, since flowers are the "go-to" gift of this cheesy holiday...I'm SOOOOOO not into it.

7.  Boxes of chocolate are just so frustrating.  I'm sorry, I like my chocolate where I can see it, or at least labeled with its contents.  All this guessing...hoping I don't get the one nasty coconut chocolate in the box...I'm just not wanting to participate in their silly little chocolate mind games.  No thank you.

6.  All my favorite restaurants are IMPOSSIBLE to get into in and around this silly "holiday".  I have to aslo admit, that when hubs and I DO go out to "celebrate" V-day, I people-watch a bit.  I notice so many couples (not us of course :) ) that just look so miserable, like they forced themselves to spend time together because the holiday says they have to.  SAD.   

5. Why do we have to have a special day in which to say "I love you" to the ones we love.  I learned early on in life, when I lost my best friend when I was 15, that you don't waste an opportunity to tell people how much they mean to you.  I hug and kiss freely, multiple times a day.  I say I love you to anyone in my life I truly care about...dog, cat, kids, hubby, parents, family, friends, colleagues, students, whoever and whatever.  I don't feel the need to buy a 5.00 card to express my love to each and every person in my life on 1 special day.  LAME.

4.  Sappy, lame, dorky Valentines Day commercials. ::gag:: ick.

3.  Stress over what to get my sweety.  I am a normally "high-strung" person.  I admit it.  But the pressure I feel to come up with some special, heart-felt, sappy, creative gift for my hubs an ADDITIONAL time each year besides the obvious (birthday and Christmas)...it is just stress I don't need in my life.  Every year I beg hubs not to exchange gifts, and every year he DOESN'T follow the rules.  So...I end up looking like the thoughtless schmuck who didn't disobey and still get him something thoughtful.  So every year I stress, contemplate and try my best to guess and IF he'll actually follow said "no gifts" rule, or if I will, yet again, look like a meanie for doing so myself.  WHAT TO DO...WHAT TO DO???

2.  Does the US really need ANOTHER holiday that contributes to obesity in this country (specificially for those poor kids who already have wayyyyy to much sugar in their daily diets).
Think about it...Halloween...candy....Thanksgiving...glutinous feast...Christmas...more food....What's up with that???

1. Kid Valentines!  This list was spurned out of my hatred for said chore as I was rushing this morning trying to slap together preschool valentines that look like I made some sort of effort.  I'm sure all the SAHMs will have their creative pinterest-worthy valentines out in full force today...and my lame-o Walmart bought superhero valentines with a tattoo and random dum-dum stuck to it (to show effort) will pale in comparison.  But, I admit...I forgot!  I mean, what school has a Valentines Day party on the fricking 9th!!!!  The kids ARE in school on actual V-day...so why must they make me remember ANOTHER day on my already full calendar.  I was definitely cursing those tiny, hard to manipulate, pointless things this morning.  Not to mention, T wanted ZERO to do with helping me put them together for HIS friends.  Oh, and I failed to mention I have to do this AGAIN for daycare, and that's 23 kids, not just 12.  ::le-sigh::

We're in the Army Now

...and no, I haven't joined up (although I respect the armed forces incredibly).  B is now doing the army crawl, and has been for a week now.  It has been a long time coming, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't a tad bit concerned she wasn't choosing to be mobile.  I'm overjoyed she's making progress.  Since I'm trying to document her milestones, I also wanted to mention that she got up on her knees yesterday and crawled to me (regular-style) about 3 times.  I was so pumped!  It's amazing how one simple milestone can get a girl jazzed.  Now only if we could move her past her 1 sign ("milk"), I'm determined, and have her FINALLY say mama.  It's kinda humorous, or heart wrenching ::whatevs::, that when I say "mama" to her, she replies with a resounding "dada" ::heart breaking in two::

On a completely unrelated note.  My hubs always has the best intentions.  He is the best Daddy a girl could ask for in terms of our kids.  I can't even explain what an amazing guy he was this weekend when I was laid up on the couch sick for DAYS.  I'm blessed.  However, sometimes I just shake my head at day-to-day decisions he makes.  ::God love him::.  His newest "blunder" involved a trip to the local library.  I know, I know...it WAS very cute he took the kids to the library while I was sick.  I agree.  I REEEEAALLLYYY appreciated it...and take credit for the idea, thank you.  However, what he came home with...well...I wasn't as pleased...

On the surface, it looks like a great pick...as T (reminder...he's 4.5) is OBSESSED with the "superfriends" cartoons right now.  He's all about Superman, Batman, Flash, Silver Surfer and Ironman.  He's a big fan of the Green Lantern.  So...this...

looked like a great find.   Until we heard "son of a bitch" as T was watching the cartoon for the FOURTH TIME (yup, 4 times in 2 days)...and I went down to check out the cover and saw this...

William Baldwin (Actor), Mark Harmon (Actor), Lauren Montgomery (Director), Sam Liu (Director)

Rated: PG-13 Format: DVD

ummm...does anyone see the problem here??? We're really great parents.  Ugh.  Oops.  Needless to say, I have hidden the DVD and it's going back to the library...stat!  Oh, and did I fail to mention T decided to "play" with the other Spiderman DVD we brought home and snapped it in half.  Yep...we're "that" family.  I can't wait to explain THAT ONE to the public library.  ::sigh::

So now we're in the Army...AND...we have the mouths of sailors.  Here's hoping T doesn't say "son of a bitch" next time he falls down on the playground at school.  ::crosses fingers::

Fevers Suck

I think I gave quite a scare to the Target checkout lady, as sweat was cascading down my face.  Needless to say I'm feeling like complete ass.  I never, I mean never, take a day off work.  So you know I'm feeling really awful.  It doesn't help that I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and bronchitis today at urgent care.  I have the biggest pills I've ever seen of amoxycillin (since I'm still BF, they couldn't give me anything stronger).  I mean, who prescribes gigantic pills to someone with a throat infection?! 

B is also not feeling her best.  She has a cough and runny nose, but the Ped said they wouldn't give her an antibiotic anyway, due to her age...so we are fighting it out here at home.  Hopefully tonight won't be like last night, me with the night sweats, and baby B up screaming (and I mean full on screaming) until 2am.  Hubs had to resort to driving her around in the car to get her to go to sleep.  She slept in her carrier the rest of the night ::hangs head in shame::  Here's hoping we're on the mend. 

Also, thanks so much for all the support and great advice about my blog envy.  I am hoping to make some big improvements to my blog soon.  Stay tuned...