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Monday, April 29, 2013

21 weeks.

How far along? 21 weeks
Total weight gain: Around 5--another check up tomorrow.
Sleep:  So much better.  Still limited to only my sides, which stinks, but I get a good quality night of sleep!
Best moment this week:  Hitting 70+ degrees finally!  So nice!
Miss Anything? Being able to reach down comfortably to tie shoes, paint nails, shave, etc.
Movement: Kicks and flutters! 
Food cravings: Sweets--Baklava....Lemon Bars....Ice cream...I'll take it all!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender:  A little Lady
Fruit/Veggie Size:  Mango!
 
YOUR BABY AT 21 WEEKS:
  • As her digestive system preps for the outside world, she's manufacturing meconium -- the tarry black substance you'll find in her first dirty diaper (ew)!
  • If it's a girl, she's already got a lifetime's supply of eggs in her womb -- about six million of them!
Labor Signs: No.
Symptoms: Tired. More out of breath. Breathing takes a little more labor and my stomach can't hold as much food!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood This Week:   Happy!
Looking forward to: Muh Birfday :)





Friday, April 26, 2013

Songs that make me wanna....

DANCE!

So, I was listening to my ipod/iphone this morning and had it tuned to my "fun" playlist.  I cranked it up and got ready for the day.  
Sun shining.
Birds chirping.  
Wind in my hair--blow dryer that is. 
Loving life.
Let me tell you, it's kind of hard to shake your groove thang AND get ready at the same time!  
I am so proud of my fun (and random!) playlist that I thought I'd share it!  Let me tell you--no genre is spared here folks--except maybe the slow and classical numbers.

I put it on shuffle, so in no particular order:

"Could You be Loved"-Bob Marley
"De Camino a la Vereda"- Buena Vista Social Club
"Anything Could Happen"- Ellie Goulding
"Loveable/Kind"-Farewell Milwaukee
"Dog Days are Over"-Florence and the Machine
"Some Nights"-Fun.
"Drunk on You" Luke Bryan
"Ho Hey"- The Lumineers
"Party Rock Anthem"-LMFAO
"I Will Wait"-Mumford and Sons
"Little Talks"-Of Monsters and Men
"Home"-Phillip Phillips
"Put Your Records On"-Corinne Bailey Rae
"Good Feeling"-Flo Rida
"Feel Again"-OneRepublic


What's on your FUN playlist?

Sunday, April 21, 2013

What I've been learning about potty training my boy.

Potty training.

Oi Vey. 

I'd say it's less like this:







And more like this:



Ok, ok.  In all honesty it hasn't been as awful as I had anticipated it to be--it's just been a process to say the least.  We are in a pretty nice groove now with our practicing and things are going well, but still lots to do before this boy is fully potty trained! He sure is being a rock star though and I can tell it is building his confidence, which I love to see!

Some things that I've learned through this process:

-Attitude is everything!  If I'm not excited about this whole thing, then he's not going to be either!  This requires smiles and clapping in the least--but most often involves wild and crazy celebratory dances, high pitched screams and squeals of celebration and candy--no shame in bribery these days.  

-Find a motivation.  For my kid it's candy--to which we've upped his teeth brushing sessions!  Thankfully he likes those too.

-Don't take things personally.  If he goes potty for EVERYONE else before he goes for you.  It is OKAY.  Use that as a resource and a encourage it--don't get down on yourself as a mother and think you've failed your child in his short life of 2.5 years and  mope around the house feeling sorry for yourself like I may or may not have done.  Encouragement is key and so is using those experiences he has with grandma and auntie and daddy to encourage him to be a big boy and go potty for mama!

-Training Pants.  Pull ups are great for when we are out and about.  I don't think we are to the point of underwear in public yet, but it's great for around the house and makes him feel like a big boy!  The cooler the pull ups and big boy undies--the more enticing.

-Knowing when he's ready--mama knows best.  A lot can change in a few months in regards to him being ready.  I struggled with this Christmas break, and then Spring break.  I felt it was too soon, but wanted to make use of the time off I had.  I don't think it was until he saw his other cousin go potty recently that he felt confident he could do the same.  He knew what to do and how to respond to his bodily urges when on the potty--it was more about him being ready and WANTING to try.  I'm sure he could have physically done it months earlier as he did on a few occasions, but lacked the desire to do so. 

-Don't compare him to any other child.  It's not good for you and it's not good for him.  He's a unique kid so it'll be a unique experience.

-It's messy. Ick.  Many accidents will happen.  They need to be viewed as accidents and not messes that he should be punished for.  An accident is an accident and its an experience he can learn from so try to also make it  a positive one---while you're sock is sopping wet with urine.  :)

-Set a fun and exciting timer.  On my phone I have a ringtone that Everett loves.  I set an alarm using that tone every hour or so and when he hears it, he knows--it's potty time!  We try to make it as fun and exciting as possible!

-Don't plan to have plans.  When you are potty training your child--YOU do not have a schedule.  Period.


 

Sometimes it just takes a little positive self talk.  "Don't worry mama, he'll get there."


Thursday, April 18, 2013

If we got to talking...


I'll start with a couple throwbacks, because well, why wouldn't you want to see random uninteresting photos of me?!


This was a few days after Curtis and I got engaged.  We look like babies. 

 

This chica is my lunch date tomorrow.  Friends since third grade and grew up together---so yes, there are bound to be crazy pictures.  I swear when the mac book came out with this app we did this for hours!


If we got to talking....

  • I'd tell you that my house smells.  It will either smell of three things--diapers, incense (thanks World Market!!) or lavender oil.
  •  You'd most certainly hear about my craving of booze that is of course unquenchable until the fall.
  • You'd know how excited I just got about being able to edit my Amazon wish list for baby, now that I know it's a girl! :)  
  • I might tell you about an upcoming sewing project I have in mind.
  • I'm sure I'd bring up work and how much I love love love it--especially now that things are really slowing down and I get to talk to 6th graders about career and college readiness and have some really cool volunteers coming in to speak to them!
  •  Perhaps I'd bring up some of the weird and random thoughts I have.  Like, what if our baby had both "parts" and we had to decide which one it would be...or wondering where do eyelashes go when they get in your eye and don't come out--seriously, is there a whole plethora of them sitting behind my eyeballs?
  • You'd probably catch on that I'm a bit OCD about things.  A funny OCD moment I remember from when I was little is that when I would shop with my mom or grandma or anyone at a clothes store, I would literally have to touch each piece of clothing I walked by.  If I walked by one and didn't touch it, I would feel the overwhelming anxiety and have to go back and touch it.  What a weirdo.  I don't even think my mom knew about it.  Glad I ditched that habit.  Now I just buy everything I pass by  :) 
  •  Oh the weather---I might have a few cuss words involved in that topic.  I want Spring!
  • I'd actually probably just listen most of the time anyways :)

Nice talkin' to ya!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

19 weeks.

How far along? 19 weeks
Total weight gain: Five big ones
Sleep:  Ahhh, Benadryl.  One and done!
Best moment this week:  Oh ya know....just finding out the sex of my baby.  :)
Miss Anything?  Really, you need to wonder?  I'll let you guess...
Movement: Flutters and tiny jabs from time to time.  Found out I'm not feeling much because my placenta is on the front of my uterus--like a cushion. 
Food cravings: No unusual cravings lately.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender:  It's a.......you'll see....  :)
Fruit/Veggie Size:  Mango!
 
Labor Signs: No, though I have been feeling some Braxton Hicks contractions--a few everyday. I think it's normal...right?
Symptoms: Tired. More out of breath. Umm, my belly is getting huge.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood This Week:   Peaceful and happy
Looking forward to: Seeing 50's in the forecast next week!


Oh... did you still want to know what we found out it is? :)




We're having a GIRL! :)

Sunday, April 14, 2013

WILRN:What I'm loving right now


Besides all the lovely and priceless blessings in my life that I am always loving---there happens to be a handful of material things I become quite fond of from time to time--hey, I'm only human, ok?

  Here are a few I am loving right now:


Yes to Carrots Daily Pampering Hair Care Regimen -- Save more than 15%! Image 

As I have written previously about, I am becoming very aware of what is going in/on my body as far as chemicals.  I've found this great new product for my hair (shampoo/conditioner) that is not only natural, organic and chemical free, but they give back a portion of their proceeds to help plant school gardens and teach kids about healthy living!  How cool is that?!  They have many products (including for babes and tots!) besides just hair that I plan to introduce into our home!  They also have other fruits/vegetables infused in their products--not just carrots.  LOVE them!  I got mine at Target! Check out their site HERE!



 Vanilla and Coconut fragrance on the go. 

Also chemical free and vegan is this roll on perfume fragrance by Pacifica. A few reasons I love this.
#1: I like roll on fragrance as opposed to spray because it is not overwhelming, nor will I end up getting it in my mouth or inhale yucky chemicals when I put on.
#2: It smells like Costa Rica and sunshine and paradise and happiness.
#3: Taken from their site-- "Our skin care and color is formulated without: Animal testing, animal ingredients, FD&C color, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, benzene, GMOs, mineral oil, petroleum, peanut oil, triclosan, and other ingredients you do not want on your skin."
It's a win-win!   Again, these products are available at Target.

  
Add caption
























These maternity pants are lovely.  They are from H&M--so attractive AND affordable.  I love the color and the fit and most of all the full panel top.  I've been wearing them with boots lately because of our dumb weather, but love that they will be great for spring/summer too!  If only they looked as good on me as they do her.  Hmmm.









I never thought I'd be an "incense girl" (whatever that means).  But I will totally confess that I was an incense virgin before this spring.  I love love love them!  Curt says its just one more thing to add to my hippie list, but I'm totally ok with that.  I got mine at World Market, and this is not the kind I got, but I couldn't find a picture of what I purchased.  The scent I have is Bamboo Tea and it is Ah-maze-ing!







Then there is this! This is the greatest app ever!  I think it's called "Letter Quiz".  Everett's favorite thing to do on it is trace the letters.  He traces all of the letters and then at the end there is a little celebration with fireworks and triumphant music and then he can blow up each letter--such a boy.  He does this over and over and over.  His handwriting is going to be perfect by Kindergarten!  Thanks technology :)




What are you loving right now?


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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Three ways I'm rebuilding my marriage


 

Marriage is hard.

We all think we have a great idea of what it is--until we are a few years in and we are threatening divorce, having knock down drag out fights and acting more like room mates than love birds.

Wait--maybe that's just me?  I'm guessing there are a few (thousand) couples that have had it rough at times as well.

I was just kid when I got married--just 21.  No career path.  Just figuring out my identity. Stubborn. Independent.  Pretty much like any 21 year old out there.  Looking back on it, definitely not ready for marriage, but I was in looooooove and had to get married. HAD to.  Like I said, stubborn. 

But we did it.  And we're doing it. 

Oh and did I mention we are 99 % opposite from each other in every area?  Yeah, that's made it pretty tough.

So, we've had our fair share of battles, lows, rough patches, storms and what have you.

It took me 6 years to get here, but for once in my marriage I feel like I have it all figured out and we are perfect.

HA! Yeah right.

But really, after 6 years, I feel like I know where I am headed in life, I know more of who I am as a person and much more willing to be less independent and work more like a team.  No not perfection, but these things have made it much easier to be in a relationship with my husband.  THIS, in my opinion is the sweet spot people should wait to get to before they say their vows.  Hindsight is 20/20 right?

I wanted to make a change in our marriage this year.  With all of the ordinary and some not so ordinary stresses and strains on our relationship, I could see that we were headed for yuckyville if we didn't make an effort to put US first, which to be honest I was not very good at.

We recentely celebrated our 6 year anniversary and with that date, came a new beginning for me and for us.  Because I decided to be more present, conscious and aware of my marriage and it's needs.

These are three ways I've been trying to rebuild our marriage into what I know it is capable of being:

-Find something to celebrate everyday.
Coincidentally, right around this time of our 6 year checkpoint I heard something at our church (Go figure---God talk into my life, no way. :) ) that really took hold of me and I fixated on it and I made it my marriage mantra.  Find something to celebrate in him everyday.  Is it that he actually put the dishes in the dishwasher?  Left only one pair of underwear on the floor today instead of his whole outfit?  Rubbed your back? Bought your favorite snack at the store? Made your baby laugh?  No matter how big or small--make an effort to find something to celebrate in that man (or woman!)

The first time I practiced this celebration we were in the middle of a fight.  I was struggling and my mind was telling me to do what I normally do--pursue and attack talk it through until he admits defeat. (I know--I'm a counselor, I should totally know better, but the counselor role doesn't always follow me home at the days end).  I went into my room by myself and with tear filled eyes and a grudge to hold I found something to celebrate.  It was small. But it was something.  It made me find something to delight in him.  It helped me to be patient and step back and give space. And it helped me to focus on the positive, not the negative.  Find something to celebrate everyday.
 
-Renew your vows.
Now I'm not talking on the beach front in front of friends and family kind of renewal, don't worry.  But really, do any of us really remember our vows?  I surely do not.

Again, as we reached the 6 year point, I sat down and I wrote Curtis a letter including in it a list of vows or promises that were customized to us--that I knew he would find special and heartfelt.  For example, I vow to try my hardest not to be late as I know it is me that makes us late many times.  Or, I vow to have a more positive outlook, as often times I can be quite the negative Nancy, and no one wants to live with a negative Nancy.  The rest, we'll, they're between us.  But there's a whole lot of them and they fit with our marriage---unlike the ones I can hardly remember!  These promises are seeing the struggles we have had in our marriage and say, "hey struggle, you better watch yo back!"

Making new promises to my husband has renewed me and fueled me to be a better wife.

-Let your labor be in the Lord.
Because at the end of it all--ya know--life; it's just you and Jesus and that is the relationship we must work on most of all.

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sister, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
1 Cor. 15:58

Because marriage is work. Amen?  Hard work to be honest.  And if I give that work to God and let him move in my marriage, then my labor...my pain...my tears...my struggles...my strife...my broken heart at times...my work will not be in vain.  It is not overlooked.  It is not forgotten. 

This verse gives me peace.  To me it says, as long as I am focused on Jesus and loving like him, I will reap the benefits--no matter if my marriage is a success or not.  No matter if Curt is meeting my needs or not.  No matter if I am happy or not.  It's ALL only about Jesus, and with that focus, I win.

Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.



It's not perfect--it will never be and so I no longer strive for that.  But I do feel like these few things are new tools in my invisible tool belt that will help me along on the ride and equip me with some extra love, grace and happiness to in turn help my husband love better as well.









 (Disclaimer: I am no marriage expert and will never claim to be.  This is simply what has helped me in my marriage and I feel certainly couldn't hurt if others took it into account!)
 




Sunday, April 7, 2013

A little of this. A little of that.

First, a little update on the growing bump.

How far along? 17 going on 18 weeks

Total weight gain: Five pounds
Sleep:  Well, after talking to my all natural/chemical free nurse this week, she encouraged me to start taking an OTC sleep supplement.  I was surprised and relieved!  SO,  I've been introducing benadryl to my sleep regimen and holy cow--what a difference!  I literally fall asleep faster, sleep better and wake up refreshed.  No kidding, I will fall asleep on my side and wake up in that same position 8 hours later.  I am out like a light and I LOVE it!
Best moment this week:  A surprise date day with the mister after my mother in law offered to steal her own date with Everett for the day!...AND she got him to go potty in the potty.
Movement: Still flutters.
Cravings: Salty things.
Gender:  We find out in about a week!
Fruit/Veggie Size:  Sweet Potato

 Symptoms: My skin has had some not so pleasant additions added to them--like itchy rough patches. Ick.  Random nose bleeds--those are quite fun. Or no.
Looking forward to: Garage sale prepping, house searching and spring weather.

Now a couple photos to dump on you from our lazy Sunday.  Seriously--it was so lazy.  Like I'm still in my pajamas and smell like the half rack of ribs I ate the night before, kinda lazy. (Hey, don't judge, I'm preggo--so I get to eat for two, right?!)  Morning sickness was furious this A.M. so mama ditched church while the boys went and I was, well, lazy.  Sometimes taking care of yourself can be the best kind of worship---right?   That and listening to a new Jesus loving band.  Songs of the Fall--seriously, check 'em out.  They are like The Civil Wars meets David Crowder. 

After Sunday cleaning, organizing, work prep and naps, we spent a bit outside to enjoy the weather pretend like it was Spring. 

Living in the city, we see/hear these quite often. Today for some reason, it was really annoying to me.  They pass over our house literally about ever two minutes and they are CLOSE.  I could probably wave and they'd see me.  By mid summer, we hardly notice them anymore.


    
Hello cute boy.

Hello handsome dog.

See that yucky white stuff? Yeah, that's about all that is left in our yard.  Bout. Darn. Time.

Almost 18 weeks. Ok, I lied...I put on jeans to go outside.  So, I guess I DID get dressed :)

Oh ya know, just climbing trees.  This little boy is gonna need a tree house one day--and I'm going to be so jealous of it!

First grill out of the spring.  Axle snatched one of the hot dogs, and Everett didn't even eat his.  Better luck next time.



How was your Sunday?







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