Adventures in Motherhood

A few pics from this week

( best life ever.  )

Happy 8 years to my Keithy. It's been full of randomness,craziness, pain, sorrow, joy, happiness, and pretty much anything else you can think of. And it's only made us stronger, as individuals and as a couple. I think we have an amazing, awesome, strong, FUN marriage and I'm so blessed to spend my life with such a giving man, wonderful daddy, and fabulous bestfriendhusband.

( 8 years ago...when we had no idea where this journey would take us... )

Today was such a nice way to start the week. We went to the Y, and Keith and I enjoyed some sauna/jacuzzi time after our workout :) That was really nice and relaxing. Then we went grocery shopping-well, Mairi and I did, and that was fun to have some girl time. 

Keith had class tonight, so we came home and just relaxed. Keith is someone that does NOT like to relax very much LOL like he always wants to be going somewhere and doing something-usually or a lot I am like that too, but oooh some days I just want to sit on my booty and do NOTHING for part of the day!!! So I was very glad to get that in tonight, to just chill at home. Becky ended up calling me and she came over to hang out and keep us company. She hadn't seen Eli in a while so she enjoyed all his silly little antics while Mairi regaled her with stories and adventures LOL

Keith came home, and then went out to watch football all by himself, poor guy :( He has no friends, I am very sad for him and I pray like 5 times a day that God would bring at least ONE measly friend into his life that he can be good friends with, he so badly wants a boy best friend. He said he felt really sad and lonely watching football and envious of all the bromances he observed. I don't get it, Keith is the most unselfish, amazing, funny, caring, random man I have ever met. I mean seriously, he really is almost the perfect man. Why men aren't FLOCKING to him, wishing to be his friend, I do not know. When Keith cares about you, he will do anything for you, he would bend over backwards to help you out, be there for you, make you laugh, give you money, all the great things a true friend does ;) So, I don't get it at all, but I am sad and so mad really that he has no friends. He really is Peter Klaven from I Love You Man. Where is his Joebin?

At any rate, it was a nice quiet night ,and tomorrow is sure to be fun-it's our 8yr anniversary :) Yay! Feels like so much longer, we've been through so much I feel like 8 years needs to be multiplied and we are like "dog years", hehe. 

Not sure what we are doing, it's a busy day with School, the Y, dance class, and I have a 90m focus group I'm doing for $50, woohoo. So then maybe my aunt will watch Mairi and we'll go to a movie or I don't know I'd be happy to just cuddle with him at home and watch shows LOL I wish we could go out to eat, maybe panera for lunch, that'd be a nice treat! I'm sure he's got something sweet planned b/c that is how he rolls (see above...)


Ok so tired, going to crawl into bed next to my loves :) 

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Posting this here b/c HOLY cow. I can't believe I burn so many calories, I was way over my "goal"...that is awesome!!! I am proud of myself! And I am eating more than I  should, ahaha, I'm technically on 1700 calories, but oh well, if I can eat this much and still lose, I'm ok with that :D I

Saturday, November 7, 2009 TARGET  2800 Calories Burned this day 3574 128% TARGET  1800 Calories Consumed  this day 1827 101% TARGET DEFICIT 1000 Calorie Balance   this day 1747 DEFICIT Calorie Deficit Calorie Surplus

plus steps (goal for a healthy active lifestyle is 10,000 a day) *

Number of Steps
 

1

0

4

3

1

So much to blog about (at least in my mind...) and I've had semagic open forever and nothing is flowing. One of those blogger's block kinda days. Or I'm just exhausted :) I don't really get the greatest sleep-I haven't since Eli was born-I'm not a fan of cosleeping b/c I don't sleep deeply/well, and I end up overall not too well rested. I don't ever say anything or complain because I don't even care, I truly don't. After sleeping "so well" for all those months after Catti died and it meant nothing, believe me when I say that I am the happiest unrested mama on the planet :) It's a tiny, itty bitty price to pay for such utter happiness and bliss that is my Lijee. 

It kind of sucks b/c when he was first born, and would wake up early, K would take him and I could sleep alone (on my stomach, sprawled out, how I sleep the best/deepest) and it was delicious. However Eli is the laziest baby in the world and sleeps longer than ANY of us, LOL. I guess there could be worse things ;) So I'm usually up before him, or at the very least getting up when he does, and we have to get our day started, so no sleeping in alone for me. The other day I had a 45m nap alone and that was awesome. 

But nothing beats waking up next to him, in the night, in the morning, snuggled up next to me, nursing away, or spread eagle next to me, etc.
Luckily I function extremely well (fine, even) on little sleep-for many years I got an average of 5 hours of sleep a night and was fine. Now I'd like to have five hours of GOOD sleep, as opposed to 7 or 8 of uncomfortable contorted nursing through the night sleep, but beggars can't be choosers.

So all that to say, I'm feeling extra tired this week, mostly too because I got even crappier sleep in Boston, with all FOUR of us stuffed into a queen bed, it wasn't really comfortable or restful for me at ALL. So I think that's just catching up with me. But I don't mind, and I"m not complaining, just explaining. There will be lots and lots of years for deep uninterrupted sprawled out sleep, and only a tiny bit of time to snuggle and cuddle puddle with my babies-often I wake up with Mairi pressed up against my back and Eli nursing on the front-I'll take that any day over being well rested ;) 

At any rate, I got my bodybugg today, more info about that on my WL blog...went to MIL's for lunch, then to the Y. We were supposed to go to the Amerks game but we were all really tired (esp Mairi, it was a bit of a rough day for her, mostly rough afternoon/evening) and so we just needed to put her emo self to bed, LOL. Tomorrow there is another game so hopefully we can make that one. Going over to MIL's for lunch again tomorrow and then to the Y as well, it's kind of like Groundhog's day! Hehe. I'm glad though b/c I'm working on my hoop dancing, 30m a day, and I still suck butt at it but progress not perfection and all that. And lots of room @ her house to hoop outside! 


A few notes so I remember about Eli...he's all over the place now, crawling, butt bumping, scooting, moving, sitting up from a laying position etc. It's like it just exploded since we got home from Boston, seriously the last 3 days all of a sudden he's got rockets or something LOL

I'm not really enjoying it :X B/c with Mairi, it was so easy. Nothing other than Mairi stuff, so age appropriate and safe. We really have to get things baby proofed for real this time around, and asap. All of m's small toys have to stay in her playroom and honestly i'm not looking forward to fighting that (endless) battle with her, and I'm contemplating just putting anything with small chokeable pieces away for the foreseeable future, for my own piece of mind. 

He's also really enjoying food and I'm making more of a daily effort for him to have at least one meal, whenever he acts like he really wants to eat. I also introduced a sippy cup to him this week and he's taking it like a champ, he can drink out of it already and he likes it. He also likes to hold it upside down and shake it and see all the milk come out, LOL. He had couscous for dinner tonight and shoveled it in like a maniac, it was so funny. He had lasagna the other day-all feeding himself, his pincher grasp is awesome. He also takes the spoon and feeds himself, he's not really a fan of me doing it, other than me getting the food ON the spoon for him. My big boy!! 

Mostly JUST for babycatcher33...Eli's first goodmama!!!

I bought Eli a custom robot outfit a few weeks ago, and I'm in love with it...and then I saw on DS this matching goodmama dipe, for $10ppd! So I could not resist, LOL. Plus the pants are fleece so that means it doesn't matter that it's a fitted and not an AIO :P

( goodmama! )

From darlingmiette when we gtg last weekend.

( Eli's true love.  )

Rather than filtering my weight loss blog here, I'm just going to resume my weight loss blog over at extra pounds.

mandella0021.extrapounds.com

The empire strikes back

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RSS feeds again

If you're addicted to xkcd_rss, icanhaschzbrgr, or other syndicated feeds, we're pleased to report that we've resolved the update error that was mucking up your RSS feeds. While content was being pulled correctly, it wasn't being posted to the feeds themselves. Late last week, we finally nailed down what we hope was the root problem, so content should post properly. We thank you for your patience.

Wii have killer CSI Deadly Intent contests!

c_s_i

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Enveloped in postcards

Last week, we asked you to send in postcards to help us decorate our drab concrete walls. Here's a photo of the results so far! Thank you so much and please keep them coming! You can mail them to Frank the Goat, Esq., c/o LiveJournal, Inc., 539 Bryant Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94107. Be sure to include your username, since we'll be giving ten random users paid account credits.

Photos of the week

If you haven't visited our new LiveJournal photo community, you're in for an amazing visual trip. LiveJournal users from around the world will take you on a scenic journey to everywhere. Post your own pictures or kick back and enjoy at lj_photophile. You can view some of this week's awesome photos after the jump. Please start tagging with geographic location, since we'd like to track all the places around the world represented in this community. Keep on commenting too!
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Hooooly crap, I can't believe it but I'm down 4.6lbs this week. YES OVER FOUR AND A HALF POUNDS!!

More info on my weight loss filter, I won't bore the general public ;)

Things that make me happy.

Random trips to Buffalo with my aunt and gram to see my cousin Nick's house (renting for semester) and going out to dinner with them. (with K and the littles, obvs)

Making smart eating choices when going out to dinner, and not feeling deprived but feeling empowered and enjoying with no guilt or crappy feelings (physically) of eating garbage/overeating.

Looking forward to spend tomorrow with my aunt and gram again, going out to lunch with them and eating for free b/c my aunt has gift certificates.

Weigh in tomorrow @ JC knowing I'm going to have a good result :D

Nursing babies snuggled up in fleece jammies

Getting the motherload of packages today when picking up our mail @ the PO (on hold from our trip). I got TWO goodmamas to try, finally, fitteds even!!! One that matches Eli's custom made Robot outfit (fleece longies, so perfect for a fitted) and one is OBV. And only $15ppd for both!!!

Bed Bug Bumpers for traveling. Will make me enjoy hotel room sleeping with a babe a LOT more.

Camo pedipeds in a bigger size.

Long talks on the way home with Keith, while the children slept.

The name Ceirdre for a girl.

Finding a Joovy for babythunder at a garage sale.

Finding a ridiculous amount of clothes for Eli AND Mairi at the same garage sale. .50 a piece, for gymbo, ON, Gap, etc. An adorable Gap coat was the best find by far (for Eli)

Knowing my bodybugg should be here TOMORROW.

Back to back amerks games on fri and sat night.

Not having to be paranoid about the swine flu because my baby has already had it, and it was no big deal.

Looking forward to going to the new local play place next week. Opens this weekend but no thanks, won't be fighting the crowds then, LOL

So much more...I'm just really grateful tonight for all the random good stuff :)

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Also, I think I'm going to start selling Partylite. I'm considering it at least. Any tips or personal experiences? I'd love to hear what you thought about selling it before I actually start. It seems like it'd be pretty easy to get sales though.

 I'm tired today. I want to sleep for hours. Instead it was an early (ish) morning.  School for M, Keith had to go to school for a meeting, and Eli and I hung out, finished dipe laundry, and I did some schoolwork while E played. Then he took a nap, M and K came home, lunch, and then off to the Y. Then dance for Mairi, and then more errands. We went to Buy Buy Baby and Walmart. Good times. Got some odds and ends that we needed. 

Now how is that for an exciting day? LOL. 

My hoop came today, that is an exciting. It is really hard, I did the dvd for a bit, but it was not going well LOL I need to practice a lot, I've got bruises on my hips now, heh. 

Keith is watching the most ridiculous movie I have never seen in my entire life. I feel myself getting more stupid as it's on. Gross. 

We are home! It was a great, wonderful trip, and I'm so glad we went. And I am so sorry we had to come home, as happy as I am to be home LOL

We went over to SIL's for breakfast (with just her, kids in school) and that was really nice.  We got on the road and made awesome time, my kids are the best travelers. We stopped once for a dipe change/nursing session for Eli, and he slept for 4 of the 5.5 hours we traveled! I think going to Florida won't be so hard at all! Mairi read, listened to music, drew, told us stories and watched a dvd. 

Food was a little iffy on the way home-I stayed on plan but I don't like being hungry and that happened, just b/c A)I need to go to the store and B)it's hard to sit in a car for so long and NOT get hungry for some reason, LMAO. Also it's been 2 days and no Y, so tomorrow I have to hit it hard-60m of cardio, yikes. My bodybugg should come this week and my hooping stuff, I'm SO excited. I love weight loss, it feels so good! I'm down over 20 pounds in about a month and a half, so I hope I can keep that going!

Schoolwork is done, I had to tweak some classes b/c the instructor for my Creative Writing class (2 late starts, starting this week) was INSANE, I mean seriously insane. Not going to take her class, no thanks. I think you should be able to see a syllabus and see if the teacher is batcrap crazy before you commit to a class, ha! Luckily I found another one starting next week I can jump into, yay. Hopefully with a sane teacher :) 

Tomorrow is a bit busy-school and dance for Mairi, gym in between...grocery shopping in there somewhere...I guess that's not too much.

I got a lot done when we got home tonight-2 loads of laundry (I now have enough dipes that I went Thurs-Mon w/o doing laundry, eep :X), made lasagna, unpacked, bathed children, and put them to bed. Yay me. And cleaned the living room and submitted a lab, on time, heh. Keith had class tonight, he dropped us off and had to go right over to his school for that, hence why it was just me this evening. 

Now it's bed time for me if I'm going to make love to the Y tomorrow. Blech ;)  

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I am really tired. I want nothing more than to crawl into my own comfy bed and sleep for hours. Instead I have to smash into a queen bed with 2 littles and Keith. Not conducive to good sleep, really, to say the least. One more night and we are homeward bound. It's been an awesome little getaway, I'm so glad we came. 

Today SIL and her fam were busy all day, so we managed to find some fun stuff to do anyway-we visited the Boston chiildren's museum for free, thanks to our membership from Ks other sister. I was really surprised to find that it was no where near the caliber of our museum in ROC. I mean it's BOSTON right? It should be bigger, better, etc? Not so much. Mairi wasn't really all that impressed-she had fun but it was kind of boring-esp if you lived here and it was all you had to do for a museum! It reminded me more of the RMSC @ home (science museum) as it was more exhibity/sciencey than hands on play type of thing-there is hands on stuff, but meh. It's just different. and no baby/toddler areas which i LOVE about strong. something for everyone there. then again strong is number 2 in the country i think, behind a place in MN, so now i kind of understand why LOL. 

well it was nice to visit it anyway, and see what it was all about. we let m choose zoo or museum i wish she'd picked zoo, i like the zoo here. next time :) 

then we drove to CT (yes random) to meet up with darlingmiette    and sofy, eli's number one girl. it was SO SO nice to see her again as always, makes my heart sad to leave, and mairi and eli's too (keith as well LOL). we met up at a random b&n that was halfway btwn both of us and hung out, the babies played (and fussed and nursed and poked each other, bit each other, fought over a sbux cup and a snack bag, HAHAHA) and Mairi read and played. then we drove back to our hotel, both kids passed out, hehehe. 

time to get into bed, bfast with SIL tomorrow AM then on the road, K has class tomorrow night so we gotta get home for it.