tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83507927452815804522024-03-13T03:50:54.413-07:00peace. love. shoreview.just a normal girl's journey through marriage, motherhood, fitness and faith in shoreview, minnesota.Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-51320123708431602432015-03-04T06:18:00.001-08:002015-03-04T06:18:42.112-08:00what's new.my baby is almost one. <i>whhaatttt?</i><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxx4MUNP9LrfOWqzRWsL6b4UAv3GUNi2JerKwEmWYCd7dUHHCSQSpkiurZQyWfeXx9iD8v30mVBl24pKCBF1ka14KeYKUp4yc72gUiWBSLw2qc2cy1c3rubWISiXoDbZQltKVSfwEoLQ/s640/blogger-image--1598507063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxx4MUNP9LrfOWqzRWsL6b4UAv3GUNi2JerKwEmWYCd7dUHHCSQSpkiurZQyWfeXx9iD8v30mVBl24pKCBF1ka14KeYKUp4yc72gUiWBSLw2qc2cy1c3rubWISiXoDbZQltKVSfwEoLQ/s640/blogger-image--1598507063.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>i swear i was just writing about being "so over" being pregnant. time just flies by. it really is bittersweet. as much as i love the tiny baby stage, i'm truly loving watching my boys play together more and more and seeing their little relationship blossom. no one can make hunter laugh like bennett can. bennett loves to hug hunter and teach him things like clapping and "so big!" they are best friends and i am praying for a life-long friendship for them.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44YdfEknMNOtuIrcIvXoJdrCue22fUpmzAStxMAdYbXrK_2-AN8mpryfPj-gPuDKTghdL5bsxU0T338KSxDU3DsTJKdXVZGWuW0PMarYuki1GxP4nvsHaDXRkJiGeFjMGEjOt3btCX3c/s640/blogger-image--199302980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44YdfEknMNOtuIrcIvXoJdrCue22fUpmzAStxMAdYbXrK_2-AN8mpryfPj-gPuDKTghdL5bsxU0T338KSxDU3DsTJKdXVZGWuW0PMarYuki1GxP4nvsHaDXRkJiGeFjMGEjOt3btCX3c/s640/blogger-image--199302980.jpg"></a></div>goofballs<br><div><br></div><div>bennett is hysterical these days, constantly making me laugh by saying the silliest things. the other day we were at an open gym playing and he ran over and said "i gotta go potty, liz!" ummm, my name is mommy, mister. he is my little parrot, constantly telling hunter to "be patient" and shushing joe for singing too loud in the car (i'm glad to have an ally in that battle!).</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZ42GIUpEzpknRGdA3ZRO-UVLXGrP2ZbN_P3irwX3szK3Jz5g7wtckTfU6_XUOO3ytfZ2nNtc-ir72oMuHL0143uH1defhqf3pcIziXMdueM-UaJkw6iP7v2MB3nDnP4cT7jEgqMYekw/s640/blogger-image-1514797561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZ42GIUpEzpknRGdA3ZRO-UVLXGrP2ZbN_P3irwX3szK3Jz5g7wtckTfU6_XUOO3ytfZ2nNtc-ir72oMuHL0143uH1defhqf3pcIziXMdueM-UaJkw6iP7v2MB3nDnP4cT7jEgqMYekw/s640/blogger-image-1514797561.jpg"></a></div>he loves wearing my boots around the house</div><div><br></div><div>bennett is dyyyyiiinggg to go to preschool now that we enrolled him for the fall. he talks about it constantly and beams with pride when he tells people about it. unfortunately he is convinced he will be taking the bus to preschool and i have refrained from correcting him. more recently he decided he will take a firetruck to preschool. the expectations just keep getting higher and we have about six months to go. preschool may seem pretty lame to him by the time he goes!</div><div><br></div><div>we switched bennett to a big boy bed (aka took the front off his crib and put up a toddler rail) a few weeks ago and it was literally the most seamless transition we have had yet. I always build up the transitions in my head like they are going to be horrible and bennett's resilience continues to surprise me. he has only gotten out of his bed/room one time and that was completely my fault. he had been calling for me for way too long and i was lazily trying to put off getting up longer than i should've. can't blame the kid.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw74UelJZqYPIRZ1-vO5UjHBBIpN_mg3G9_Npsnsik2BzPdvIGLa4RBaM_zkS8XiFhyG3GmWuUy5NOBGn8sup-WpRwKumCROpJvooGiqVKIZUD8uYM-8hjTy0dBTmRJnZcEs7OC2VH28/s640/blogger-image--1013514345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw74UelJZqYPIRZ1-vO5UjHBBIpN_mg3G9_Npsnsik2BzPdvIGLa4RBaM_zkS8XiFhyG3GmWuUy5NOBGn8sup-WpRwKumCROpJvooGiqVKIZUD8uYM-8hjTy0dBTmRJnZcEs7OC2VH28/s640/blogger-image--1013514345.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div></div><div>joe and i are doing dave ramsey's financial peace university and have two nights left. we did the class when we first got married but obviously life has changed a bit since then (two kids, two student loans, two mortgages, one income, etc) so we felt like going through the course again would be helpful for us. and it really has. we feel better about our financial picture (and our communication about our finances) now than we have in several years. we are diligently working on the baby steps, using our cash envelopes, and developing a plan to be completely debt-free (minus our mortgage) within the next few years.</div><div><br></div><div>my diet/fitness game has been weak lately and i am really struggling with it. i have hit this wall before and i think it's partially just burnout. i'm taking a little break from tracking what i'm eating to see if alittle time off will help me get my motivation back. i'm still getting to the gym a few times a week and i'm eating what i want but trying to be mindful of portions and hunger/fullness. maybe it's just time to have another baby (ha). actually that is in the plan for the near-ish future but maybe not quite yet. though 7 out of 10 in our supper club group are pregnant, so the peer pressure is mounting. ๐</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-32473740907571058282015-02-06T15:37:00.001-08:002015-02-07T07:59:54.886-08:00seven, ten months and nashville.<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">as expected, i got a little behind on the posting. we finished the food week for seven and finally got hunter to the doctor for his nine month well check (at nearly 10.5 months...).</span></div><div><br></div><div>seven's food week was honestly a struggle. i think it was less about the food for me and more about being asked to do something i didn't want to do. it definitely brought to light my unwilling spirit in some areas of my life i feel called to, but simply don't want to, submit to God. so, in all it was tough, it was a learning experience, and i am super glad it's over.</div><div><br></div><div>as for hunter, at 10 months old he's still my skinny mini. he looks chubby (which i love), but he's only in the 10th percentile for weight, 20th for height and 50th for head circumference. some day he will grow into his big noggin, haha. he's right on track with development- crawling all over, eating anything and everything, starting to pull himself up and sleeping like a champ.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTJup4CfcDyh9W1KGtU8YnCp5mXua01wCJ-bBJYCHGJJIU_kNNbDC1G750snJdsdGl0P72X_xz0OrYuAsPsZ1X2f4V1sJDNhvrxmu_9dwCKiqYBsWvn1_NTl7v2Hos0GGhXUYXMsPd_I/s640/blogger-image--1470437473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTJup4CfcDyh9W1KGtU8YnCp5mXua01wCJ-bBJYCHGJJIU_kNNbDC1G750snJdsdGl0P72X_xz0OrYuAsPsZ1X2f4V1sJDNhvrxmu_9dwCKiqYBsWvn1_NTl7v2Hos0GGhXUYXMsPd_I/s640/blogger-image--1470437473.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJtUjvnqyLegFqlC5FDu_wQUaQDA8r3JSVqz6PNZRMKU7uUO53mQQhYvHlhwqzzqqWUX6F3NZew8RpZg5hASPvTA75WwBeXQB0hMWzPMQQMXg-musvh_BzNij0XIzSIYSUcD_7SKF_Jg/s640/blogger-image--1995526711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJtUjvnqyLegFqlC5FDu_wQUaQDA8r3JSVqz6PNZRMKU7uUO53mQQhYvHlhwqzzqqWUX6F3NZew8RpZg5hASPvTA75WwBeXQB0hMWzPMQQMXg-musvh_BzNij0XIzSIYSUcD_7SKF_Jg/s640/blogger-image--1995526711.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>if all babies were as smiley and easy going as he is, i would have a hundred. joe would disagree.</div><div><br></div><div>joe and i went to nashville last weekend for a little getaway. joe has an aunt and uncle who live there so we stayed with them and had a good balance of spending time with them and doing our own thing. we saw some live music on friday night which was cool. the bad was called the smoking section and it's made up of some of the major musicians who've played on many of the country stars' albums and in their bands. joe's uncle is in the music business so he knows the good music to see, and the smoking section didn't disappoint!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLOZhEA-zvD5b82GdKgI_73PCjwfn8wx4A2gs1zPV0P5LhjBFHLhzwnM7UVJSdHqGxwrFcF9lL-4vQR8ev_FCQTVU-TbH6aiKre7p5BdGM-WCCV6e_Nb7q4_wUoWtPl3sespek750-gM/s640/blogger-image--1381946900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLOZhEA-zvD5b82GdKgI_73PCjwfn8wx4A2gs1zPV0P5LhjBFHLhzwnM7UVJSdHqGxwrFcF9lL-4vQR8ev_FCQTVU-TbH6aiKre7p5BdGM-WCCV6e_Nb7q4_wUoWtPl3sespek750-gM/s640/blogger-image--1381946900.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>we also had some super good pancakes at the pancake pantry and saw the country music hall of fame while we were there which was cool.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkzafSVZ1LgxjvDyswZH3epZgew6HsNMfM4FLY7tEmpQesnIOV1TsOxJoL_VjjvWVvcNMFNgHA7nzVfFDPRfpJBmIBwopks6ihSL8aEp_8Yin-zEx6rkIW8b1IPtGJQvr6IbBQqQ1KgQ/s640/blogger-image--1931848237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkzafSVZ1LgxjvDyswZH3epZgew6HsNMfM4FLY7tEmpQesnIOV1TsOxJoL_VjjvWVvcNMFNgHA7nzVfFDPRfpJBmIBwopks6ihSL8aEp_8Yin-zEx6rkIW8b1IPtGJQvr6IbBQqQ1KgQ/s640/blogger-image--1931848237.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTVLfKAFABuLNHzu5Wv-EFV1AmnhGpFm4LifwQ2I3ZpFFj0PekV881iQAvJjhvLtYfjRmlSirU_23_n7o45oISMxfN-IfhpZjI7A2LI14lBHVKVZlg5F_K567q5hJpSU97Ohd5zG2nNs/s640/blogger-image--1888716172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTVLfKAFABuLNHzu5Wv-EFV1AmnhGpFm4LifwQ2I3ZpFFj0PekV881iQAvJjhvLtYfjRmlSirU_23_n7o45oISMxfN-IfhpZjI7A2LI14lBHVKVZlg5F_K567q5hJpSU97Ohd5zG2nNs/s640/blogger-image--1888716172.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>they had a musician showcase thing going on at the hall of fame while we were there which featured kasey <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">musgrave's drummer. he was really good and it was fun to see a little acoustic performance. we even bought the guitar player/singer's album.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">so thankful my parents were willing to watch the boys for us!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGKrYNTuiOM1zRZwDNi-sazrZhnEsAI2pzy4lLDU9jj2RNZj5BjnumVCys0tv4P0mPaSGrtFpjcXGbLK0UGbJUXCrPTr_hQxY9PeSTWDW4-wnh4_VMPeGKpy-GYBh4wOtdHShB5so7C4/s640/blogger-image--1041404896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGKrYNTuiOM1zRZwDNi-sazrZhnEsAI2pzy4lLDU9jj2RNZj5BjnumVCys0tv4P0mPaSGrtFpjcXGbLK0UGbJUXCrPTr_hQxY9PeSTWDW4-wnh4_VMPeGKpy-GYBh4wOtdHShB5so7C4/s640/blogger-image--1041404896.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">bennett playing in the refrigerator box house my mom made him</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-89367615646345030512015-01-24T08:16:00.001-08:002015-01-24T08:44:12.599-08:00seven foods: halfway point.this is not fun. seriously.<div><br></div><div>originally i thought maybe i would at least lose a little weight through this thing. not so. all i'm eating is peanut butter toast. eggs sometimes. apples a lot. more than one cup of black coffee a day for sure.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi204Xau_P9LBv2eN85i9v7b0XNMttpAVxfTJkmjWH2m2JYIUlX14ngHWKqbXpYGnFJCspVeQP-9ulzh4n9CvTSjp-qHH9NqP20RDw_o5NCW26fpvvgRNwZ3hVIyvPNFPeBs2WXlqjpT2s/s640/blogger-image--119561377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi204Xau_P9LBv2eN85i9v7b0XNMttpAVxfTJkmjWH2m2JYIUlX14ngHWKqbXpYGnFJCspVeQP-9ulzh4n9CvTSjp-qHH9NqP20RDw_o5NCW26fpvvgRNwZ3hVIyvPNFPeBs2WXlqjpT2s/s640/blogger-image--119561377.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>dry chicken is gross. dry spinach is grosser. potatoes take too long to cook. we definitely made some errors in choosing our foods. we decided to do chicken instead of turkey which was a major judgement fail. at least turkey deli meat would've made a palatable sandwich sans condiments. dry chicken on bread is like eating chalk. also spinach sounded like such a healthy, righteous choice. but it's boring and tasteless so i've barely even eaten any this whole time.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IUItz4g2yuSCJYNzlgcS0P0Zwnkze2fHfsV6c80n3NAelZw17Any0mBigt_XM3TFuLQ__7NwctYhJb88wo9udkX9rkOfiWYPP8jldk2-sJQTdYf84cE5MNEtNDqnn8rw6jSPU-BWqnM/s640/blogger-image--1194316182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IUItz4g2yuSCJYNzlgcS0P0Zwnkze2fHfsV6c80n3NAelZw17Any0mBigt_XM3TFuLQ__7NwctYhJb88wo9udkX9rkOfiWYPP8jldk2-sJQTdYf84cE5MNEtNDqnn8rw6jSPU-BWqnM/s640/blogger-image--1194316182.jpg"></a></div><i>this was my attempt at lunch one day: spinach, apples, chicken, olive oil, salt and pepper. looks better than it tastes- take my word for it.</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMwmp5-eZ0u1j4o4ortAz5yobMCPHIJivSTJ8kQdTXrlKkxaRVx8wLp6zSYDsQjPz1BcschUB6GaSR8E7L6oLls9rp5EBVlUtTpAKnX4aE8zGhXvtc4DAioJ2C8k-5n1Y6Pz61wvruHM/s640/blogger-image--1280369491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMwmp5-eZ0u1j4o4ortAz5yobMCPHIJivSTJ8kQdTXrlKkxaRVx8wLp6zSYDsQjPz1BcschUB6GaSR8E7L6oLls9rp5EBVlUtTpAKnX4aE8zGhXvtc4DAioJ2C8k-5n1Y6Pz61wvruHM/s640/blogger-image--1280369491.jpg"></a></div>homemade baked potato chips. actually tasted good but burned most of them after spending forever making them. cue frustrated meltdown.</i></div><div><br></div><div>we are considering a midway swap: cheese for spinach. not sure how i feel about it- would that be cheating? jury's still out.</div><div><br></div><div>emotionally, i've got to be honest, this whole thing is bringing out a very unflattering side of me: the "i don't want to and you can't make me" side. i've felt rather convicted that i am completely resistant to the possibility that God could use this experiment to actually teach me something and change me for the better. instead i've dug my spiritual heels in and acted like a stubborn two year old (and believe me, i would know what that looks like; i've got quite the example of one of those at my house. not naming names or anything...). i'm going through the motions but refusing to let it mean anything.</div><div><br></div><div>this is exactly the opposite of what i am called to do as a Christian. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Jesus, in luke 9:23-24, says, "'whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. for whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.'" when have i ever really denied myself? <i>not often.</i> and with a willing spirit at that? <i>probably never. </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">certainly not daily.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">while God doesn't necessarily require me to eat only seven foods for a week, this exercise has most definitely revealed my unwillingness to deny myself as an act of obedience to God in many areas of my life. being abundantly blessed can apparently become a stumbling block to sacrificial obedience. and i think it has in my case. food for thought... (get it? ha ha)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">three more days. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-77308790969620482242015-01-19T09:17:00.001-08:002015-01-19T09:17:14.840-08:00seven.for our small group we just started a new study. we are doing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/An-Experimental-Mutiny-Against-Excess/dp/1433672960">7: an experimental mutiny against excess by jen hatmaker</a>. the premise is to temporarily reduce the amount of excess we have in 7 areas of our lives: food, clothes, spending, media, possessions, waste, and stress. honestly, this is not a study i would've chosen on my own. it's not really my style. i can get on board with reducing my stress, but otherwise i want lots of food and clothes and i don't want to have to monitor my media time or spending or think about how much i waste in a given day, week, month or year. but i guess that's the beauty of a small group; everyone has a unique perspective, unique gifts, etc. and we are able to learn from one another. so, here goes 7.<br />
<br />
jen hatmaker took one month to focus on each of the seven areas of excess. she challenges us to give each one a week. we just read chapter one, which is food. she chose seven foods and ate ONLY those seven foods (plus salt, pepper and moderate amounts of olive oil) for a whole month. her foods were apples, spinach, chicken, sweet potatoes, whole wheat bread, eggs and avocados. <i>ok, i like those foods; this doesn't sound THAT bad.</i> no spices, condiments, sauces, sweeteners. <i>umm, ok bland, but still, it's only a week. </i>no coffee. <i>that's where i draw the line.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
so, joe and i start tomorrow (tuesday, january 20th) with only 7 foods for one week. our foods are pretty much the same as jen hatmaker's, with a few minor modifications:<br />
<br />
apples<br />
spinach<br />
turkey (my idea is that we can have deli turkey, roasted turkey breast, and ground turkey)<br />
potatoes<br />
whole wheat bread<br />
eggs<br />
peanut butter<br />
<br />
also, for the safety of my family i have decided that i will have one cup of black coffee each morning. no lattes. no cream/sugar. so, basically, it sucks. but i fear for my children if i don't have it. so that's that.<br />
<br />
since bennett literally lives on cheese, bread, peanut butter, popcorn, and applesauce, he is not doing 7. hunter will do 7 because the kid will eat anything we put in front of him and won't stop eating until we stop giving him food. a boy after my own heart.<br />
<br />
joe is all "this won't even be hard" and "i think we should do this for longer than a week." i'm all "GIVE ME CHOCOLATE NOW!" and it hasn't even started yet.<br />
<br />
my reluctance to do this experiment has definitely been convicting. as much as i joke about it, i like my comfortable life. i like that i can basically indulge any craving i have at any time. i never have to worry about where my next meal will come from. but the truth is, this isn't the case for the majority of the world. in the book, jen hatmaker talks about how if you make $35,000/year, you are in the top 4% of the wealthiest people in the world. if you make $50,000, you are in the top 1%. YIKES. i chronically take what i have for granted and focus so much energy on keeping up with the joneses. or, as dave ramsey puts it, spending money i don't have on things i don't need to impress people i don't like. yeah, that.<br />
<br />
so, i'm praying that God uses this whole experiment to change my heart and help me to recognize my abundance and use the recognition as a catalyst to alter my perspective and behavior long-term. i need to get back to the true meaning of want versus need. the two have become practically synonymous.<br />
<br />
but i will continue to maintain that coffee is a need. it just is.<br />
<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-69819580369216880932015-01-01T05:09:00.001-08:002015-01-01T19:11:20.446-08:002014 going on 2015.2014 has been quite a year. i began my venture as a stay-at-home mom (and, in an effort to embrace SAHM-dom, started driving a minivan), we welcomed sweet hunter joseph into our family, joe achieved a huge milestone of becoming a million dollar rep for wright medical, we celebrated our fifth year of marriage, i lost 35 lbs since the end of june (and counting!), we potty trained bennett, i began a work-from-home job a few hours a week, and the list goes on.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY38ua4mGICkwQmJTGc9rfSHoAJdoSvdWh1YCyv0LVCfP3he3J2gQ3W2YisbMmyNn2355wLxW1rq1OPQifx5qEzshhVxNw_GZNQQKArpYjGM2KUG5GT4UGNaaryEeBloVjnbu1fmd7978/s640/blogger-image-1160578309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQLq6ZZWD9_flakfFI74LtvRuvKYYo_abCmN-MBRxnvg2x0_WaRrohkZ190y5Alf2i4WGK5vrZnJ1UNZU89LPZuIHJ3p2iwnencPOTBaQNsOW7rongVxQ5uNR0iO_NnTe7VMXSlJcHUQ/s640/blogger-image--2079183519.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKI1hNHJJTdRVgnFbjNptOxrkuA-JtWd37C51eCNmNN023T-2rICjSICmtX7LRBOugR3I05Coz2oJ2XYLYVWl_dDJclt0YjjdPzWQg6EswPaU15eQpCUKMEANWcq8kT1Q29L_NtpvHQnE/s640/blogger-image-1544054551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKI1hNHJJTdRVgnFbjNptOxrkuA-JtWd37C51eCNmNN023T-2rICjSICmtX7LRBOugR3I05Coz2oJ2XYLYVWl_dDJclt0YjjdPzWQg6EswPaU15eQpCUKMEANWcq8kT1Q29L_NtpvHQnE/s640/blogger-image-1544054551.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxNKQKcdaFU7SKTtbSUXkhN5sDgTRK9TApRkZwk8aDdrnX2IixNF9MO67QYBg6Bm1sKSXbcZtTAAyh8T6yLrZsJ7m25JBSAA1X4ewhAAYAViT7sHTTuFaEnQeeF1eibXIVI-GJSC9sII/s640/blogger-image--1695977352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxNKQKcdaFU7SKTtbSUXkhN5sDgTRK9TApRkZwk8aDdrnX2IixNF9MO67QYBg6Bm1sKSXbcZtTAAyh8T6yLrZsJ7m25JBSAA1X4ewhAAYAViT7sHTTuFaEnQeeF1eibXIVI-GJSC9sII/s640/blogger-image--1695977352.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Q5zBJwBETVE9ljlkSWbW-cVqjwQisEs8xqAXiZeQOvbJDczye92gbsqqd6mqjZ2NdahAWvSyHjBY782GQVnhb2lnTePlfgh7UGV67R72nB27VrVUGMqQ_6seKdVb7rIYH1wcXwgiV90/s640/blogger-image-476864966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Q5zBJwBETVE9ljlkSWbW-cVqjwQisEs8xqAXiZeQOvbJDczye92gbsqqd6mqjZ2NdahAWvSyHjBY782GQVnhb2lnTePlfgh7UGV67R72nB27VrVUGMqQ_6seKdVb7rIYH1wcXwgiV90/s640/blogger-image-476864966.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>it's also been a challenging year for us with trying to navigate the major life changes and manage the stress caused by long hours, sleepless nights, and a "spirited" two year old. though we undoubtedly argue and snap at one another far more often than i'd like to admit, we can be confident that we are both in it for the long haul. i'm thankful for a patient husband to both work through the difficulties and frustrations and celebrate the victories and joys with.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNq5Y-jW4GR4SIwM2kIHJIQfJ7ZIgLUcfJeUqBjp8tBAw5icrzUTLM8KvcQKtkt6X7bx_vr0JVN-WYo21I5EcOkwYRa2PScUSYmYIXRXCoZYbZevf-DkhZEjdJGtspkXO_RKPtJXNB30/s640/blogger-image-1692544160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNq5Y-jW4GR4SIwM2kIHJIQfJ7ZIgLUcfJeUqBjp8tBAw5icrzUTLM8KvcQKtkt6X7bx_vr0JVN-WYo21I5EcOkwYRa2PScUSYmYIXRXCoZYbZevf-DkhZEjdJGtspkXO_RKPtJXNB30/s640/blogger-image-1692544160.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>i'm definitely resolving to be a better wife this year, learning to hold my tongue ๐ and watch my tone ๐</div></div></div><div><br></div><div>my other resolutions this year include using cash instead of credit, paying off debt, continuing to lose weight, keeping a cleaner house, and staying calmer with bennett. i know that's quite a laundry list of resolutions, but my goals are simply to be better this year than last. progress, not perfection.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_piixpPSkTWECRoANxELz8YO9VA9-Hh2_QvQbaKaJqfDtmKqsqem4Q-CcAQliLE1nOqFUuYVd0iESIt2AUb8djdHM2PGEzBCtd1YApQPEfj2qQatmhmJBGM4JUfRtMKnqObwA0-orUtE/s640/blogger-image-658436658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_piixpPSkTWECRoANxELz8YO9VA9-Hh2_QvQbaKaJqfDtmKqsqem4Q-CcAQliLE1nOqFUuYVd0iESIt2AUb8djdHM2PGEzBCtd1YApQPEfj2qQatmhmJBGM4JUfRtMKnqObwA0-orUtE/s640/blogger-image-658436658.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-46179082322881784892014-12-12T13:05:00.001-08:002014-12-12T13:12:38.810-08:00good for the soul.<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">yesterday was my monthly cooking club's annual christmas celebration. i look forward to cooking club each month, but especially at the holidays. this year's holiday theme was "just like grandma made." when i think of my grandma holmes' cooking i think of 3 things: baked macaroni and cheese, pies (peach and pumpkin) and, most importantly, california raisin bread.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O4guwD0YpAPiPPfZH6lfXUR2gvuinOG5xI4QCuEHWX1RNoKhB3kUWUvrm6r1fAmXkD_UiQ6iotIaeJxB0bFmYr35-f6fzHh1rQ3HZBJk4QyRA-9tGP53Bb-cquKJGz3gB73sxAC-G8I/s640/blogger-image--1143248071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O4guwD0YpAPiPPfZH6lfXUR2gvuinOG5xI4QCuEHWX1RNoKhB3kUWUvrm6r1fAmXkD_UiQ6iotIaeJxB0bFmYr35-f6fzHh1rQ3HZBJk4QyRA-9tGP53Bb-cquKJGz3gB73sxAC-G8I/s640/blogger-image--1143248071.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_eN22qfLsA6MXXoTih6-sJbgWbKRpcR0hDilz9tuBhYZsuFNrkjk2ILcdaPxv8AvnDgWmOnipQk4ufjiq6HsPbrTjK2-EeTk0QxykrVcUI7VV2uen_IEbGbsXR4RJrJmTVdJLKFk_Ag/s640/blogger-image--282828899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_eN22qfLsA6MXXoTih6-sJbgWbKRpcR0hDilz9tuBhYZsuFNrkjk2ILcdaPxv8AvnDgWmOnipQk4ufjiq6HsPbrTjK2-EeTk0QxykrVcUI7VV2uen_IEbGbsXR4RJrJmTVdJLKFk_Ag/s640/blogger-image--282828899.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>my grandparents, cecil and kathleen holmes, live in hudson, iowa. growing up, we would travel a couple times a year to stay with them and i always looked forward to grandma's raisin bread. we would arrive and i'd immediately feel comforted by their house's warm, bread-y smell. sure enough, loaves of bread were found rising on the kitchen counter, almost ready to be baked. that fresh from the oven raisin bread just smelled and tasted like love.<br><div><br></div><div>making homemade bread has always intimidated me. actually, anything requiring yeast has always intimidated me. but my grandma taught me how to make her raisin bread several months ago and i decided i would be brave and attempt to make it by myself for cooking club. i pulled out the recipe my grandma had just written down for me over thanksgiving and read through it. lots of steps. but the last thing she wrote on the card was "enjoy making the bread- it's good for the soul. love, gr."</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHRB4-OORJwgtO6uhwqRhLfYr2a5owXaUabNNCC9qwVkK2_eG33DIjgy7CDqm0olZbkTEZ_bShUD0D2qDeTuj1fiB98P5ByvPuiylOtI5viLgc58dptNm0issHn_q4dNS2BxRA75PvmU/s640/blogger-image-823691068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHRB4-OORJwgtO6uhwqRhLfYr2a5owXaUabNNCC9qwVkK2_eG33DIjgy7CDqm0olZbkTEZ_bShUD0D2qDeTuj1fiB98P5ByvPuiylOtI5viLgc58dptNm0issHn_q4dNS2BxRA75PvmU/s640/blogger-image-823691068.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIg7gcxsc0gg7-jQX6SBOXxMF-y02Cgl8RBneLUkXlHpjIB8_g72ZQ9JZ_21wbBr7Pagmy6JE1F2msyUI-95r2ZfGABvlupvcZ-7pQVlgvC6UXBYHAw1L7hsKpac_vt0OTeKnB_rQ4gFI/s640/blogger-image-374875717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIg7gcxsc0gg7-jQX6SBOXxMF-y02Cgl8RBneLUkXlHpjIB8_g72ZQ9JZ_21wbBr7Pagmy6JE1F2msyUI-95r2ZfGABvlupvcZ-7pQVlgvC6UXBYHAw1L7hsKpac_vt0OTeKnB_rQ4gFI/s640/blogger-image-374875717.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>thankfully my children cooperated and napped long enough for me to go through the whole process: mixing, cooling, kneading, rising, deflating, rising, kneading, rising, baking, cooling. while i *almost* forgot to mix in the raisins, i'd say my bread was a success. maybe not quite as good as grandma's, but still delicious, and definitely good for the soul.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppE_bN2qY70_XG6Y1GTdNpVD0Ui0P8hyphenhyphenBD0wElACBMVT7Yif6msepRN_pwZFMsQnNWx9dm7vdx5tU_Ov1mNFtfoWv963qJYMcykuU9bHQpA9-ws1-dACzFzxJ-mBwMAQx8ROUbOR-ff8/s640/blogger-image--177387896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppE_bN2qY70_XG6Y1GTdNpVD0Ui0P8hyphenhyphenBD0wElACBMVT7Yif6msepRN_pwZFMsQnNWx9dm7vdx5tU_Ov1mNFtfoWv963qJYMcykuU9bHQpA9-ws1-dACzFzxJ-mBwMAQx8ROUbOR-ff8/s640/blogger-image--177387896.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-66518934132295390902014-12-08T13:29:00.001-08:002014-12-09T12:39:25.798-08:00the latest.considering it's been a month and a half since my last post, it's safe to say that consistency isn't my strong suit (bennett would likely agree...) for the most part things have been about the same around here. the boys are doing great and i'm truly loving being home with them. some days are tough for sure, but i love it a majority of the time.<div><br></div><div>i feel like bennett is suddenly so big and grown up. like, he's practically applying to colleges (ivy league pre-med, of course). it's so sad, but fun at the same time. he is constantly singing jingle bells, baby beluga (or baby ah-wooga, as he says), abc's, old mcdonald, and of course happy birthday to himself. he's obsessed with fire trucks/firefighters, christmas lights, daddy's snowblower, and bubble guppies (yes, still).</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B8KZrzQ7WXxJRswcspwJJtpcJPtKyc5AAc3TFa7HgdPOapjOTeHbX5zz_wET8GD_0fPjxnazb23jT19tYd7w1r9ntekU5LGVi9ieuDm9TsVHyodF4_K6xeH7G1aa4fwf7ZJ9FoZMIMc/s640/blogger-image--404261458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B8KZrzQ7WXxJRswcspwJJtpcJPtKyc5AAc3TFa7HgdPOapjOTeHbX5zz_wET8GD_0fPjxnazb23jT19tYd7w1r9ntekU5LGVi9ieuDm9TsVHyodF4_K6xeH7G1aa4fwf7ZJ9FoZMIMc/s640/blogger-image--404261458.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>he would live on pancakes and popcorn alone.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4U95uWV1Wbht82Mxks9DOvy3IeYLDb3VydTmTn0JnEdXjrCrVRUYJweb_PLP2bbNkABS1gvWpPVyNT67z7ttbzJU6cf7p4cD8ZRAqSIsS2bBRT6pPU8npxZNMBVgzCJaHRGia2jsGnU/s640/blogger-image-80575634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4U95uWV1Wbht82Mxks9DOvy3IeYLDb3VydTmTn0JnEdXjrCrVRUYJweb_PLP2bbNkABS1gvWpPVyNT67z7ttbzJU6cf7p4cD8ZRAqSIsS2bBRT6pPU8npxZNMBVgzCJaHRGia2jsGnU/s640/blogger-image-80575634.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGUD2wryv24ntx6gV2Bo-pTcJS8nnyDlNjuIKBKg4YrWgVoJpA-_T-5lS_SnMWPODVV0gPuyXhkzA0lsd1EHPG3WLZmJ-0nWkpJcyj5agZWuX1jBTFW2mKpmmPSuqlOVFtptJnmztmqE/s640/blogger-image-1250186944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGUD2wryv24ntx6gV2Bo-pTcJS8nnyDlNjuIKBKg4YrWgVoJpA-_T-5lS_SnMWPODVV0gPuyXhkzA0lsd1EHPG3WLZmJ-0nWkpJcyj5agZWuX1jBTFW2mKpmmPSuqlOVFtptJnmztmqE/s640/blogger-image-1250186944.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>he loves BSF and MOPS and i love hearing him talk about jesus. hunter is still his best friend and he is just so sweet to him.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4FDUeCV-FZ36tmBt874aVeOP1BH15QapguZrw2cwmca4F5hV6MzDa5HDTJtNYWSh-soSCtJbzEY8hS_2JQxJMHGKKFWe0o84JuSQ5Nmgc4MIJgfFRs__rBfwq1jQCd536eWAl4dFDt4/s640/blogger-image--1831241201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4FDUeCV-FZ36tmBt874aVeOP1BH15QapguZrw2cwmca4F5hV6MzDa5HDTJtNYWSh-soSCtJbzEY8hS_2JQxJMHGKKFWe0o84JuSQ5Nmgc4MIJgfFRs__rBfwq1jQCd536eWAl4dFDt4/s640/blogger-image--1831241201.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>he is just so funny and i can't get enough of the funny stuff he says.</div><div><br></div><div>we have unfortunately entered the "why?" stage and "because!" is typically my end response (followed by ignoring the whys that inevitably keep coming). also, bennett recently started stripping off his clothes and diaper when protesting nap or bedtime. luckily it's not a super regular occurrence, but it does happen enough to be frustrating! speaking of diapers, potty training is great. he still needs reminders and does have an occasional accident (1-2 times a week, maybe) but for the most part he's good to go (although poop is definitely a challenge- he's gone in the potty many times but would rather not. gross).</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhXvb0clB6jnvL29ixUDwl3Hcvu9nT4jABI9y96Mh85Mr6EO8GiReOExwySpz2C1yfwxRkMBLv3TZaCGFuAzShyphenhyphenp8he8xLWrmbKi4oGdvFpNoojkmD-gJpL6gsburvp7PIfspv58-IvI/s640/blogger-image-1816035585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhXvb0clB6jnvL29ixUDwl3Hcvu9nT4jABI9y96Mh85Mr6EO8GiReOExwySpz2C1yfwxRkMBLv3TZaCGFuAzShyphenhyphenp8he8xLWrmbKi4oGdvFpNoojkmD-gJpL6gsburvp7PIfspv58-IvI/s640/blogger-image-1816035585.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">we would love for him to tell us more regularly when he needs to go potty rather than us telling him it's time to go try, but we will get there. we knew it would be a longer process since we started at such a young age and we're ok with that.</span></div><div><br></div><div>hunter is such a big boy, too. we switched to formula a few weeks ago and while it's always bittersweet, i'm happy to be done nursing. hunter didn't miss a beat and has been completely content with bottles/formula. he's sleeping really well, typically sleeping 7:30-7:30, waking up sometime around 5AM to eat. he LOVES purรฉes and will pretty much eat anything.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJDmDPoL0Z3LP41K97xNL4ufP3ERy9QCYyHfeImiBe1WfIqrlos9fEIUQNc1ZmX22chZ0lca4cgclS7EBIpLayOPOj4SQI73EJOsYLin1Mqp_3_7nhRByxUIyWY_5v6kkMFXstibO3-8/s640/blogger-image--587745669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJDmDPoL0Z3LP41K97xNL4ufP3ERy9QCYyHfeImiBe1WfIqrlos9fEIUQNc1ZmX22chZ0lca4cgclS7EBIpLayOPOj4SQI73EJOsYLin1Mqp_3_7nhRByxUIyWY_5v6kkMFXstibO3-8/s640/blogger-image--587745669.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>still no teeth (bennett didn't get his first tooth until he was 11 months old) but loves little finger foods like diced mangoes and bananas and, of course, little puffs and yogurt melts. hunter is super smiley and easy-going. no crawling just yet, but lots of backwards scooting and spinning in circles is happening.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisth_1lChc5Ba2F8B_fxSG0sON_ji29v3YSpzuiYCnWapHKNPV3nIzohVjutFW6bnVrD4FJap9rlQ0aRREB9BJtYIN8etgI88JF0ExRiLzGM2Us6oS_UNEMe3KyfmLJY6T6m4vBgnqJVI/s640/blogger-image-88094988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisth_1lChc5Ba2F8B_fxSG0sON_ji29v3YSpzuiYCnWapHKNPV3nIzohVjutFW6bnVrD4FJap9rlQ0aRREB9BJtYIN8etgI88JF0ExRiLzGM2Us6oS_UNEMe3KyfmLJY6T6m4vBgnqJVI/s640/blogger-image-88094988.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DghYXnnR1Odec88IGkTYdba3CR1dbZy_br9EsNFFBLyoOnVo9fzACNMoGU5MVfEu3VXvNWzsMe_nLKrhHe9QUxBDK-VAxl1pzSnUXfXyYbc9VtD1egdcXppAHKAn8Pt2sXzc8uNJ2xo/s640/blogger-image--1268376819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DghYXnnR1Odec88IGkTYdba3CR1dbZy_br9EsNFFBLyoOnVo9fzACNMoGU5MVfEu3VXvNWzsMe_nLKrhHe9QUxBDK-VAxl1pzSnUXfXyYbc9VtD1egdcXppAHKAn8Pt2sXzc8uNJ2xo/s640/blogger-image--1268376819.jpg"></a></div><br></div>both boys love their time with my parents, mimi and papa! we spent thanksgiving at their house in chetek with them, my brother ryan and his wife jeanie, my grandparents, and my aunt carol. despite most of us getting the stomach flu, we had a good time together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZcL81adpIAz8wWknIXzY-f3aWsy3sVhKBPuDuP9Uv0pPH1U2dqfjWxb2C0LH1hRMNMZU324NM4iluwN1EkKMleyafvl1fwiQIN1BHWGnkPA2Kgy44GOA2CIY7IuCcxZ8JYEKtvQyBYg/s640/blogger-image--616720126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZcL81adpIAz8wWknIXzY-f3aWsy3sVhKBPuDuP9Uv0pPH1U2dqfjWxb2C0LH1hRMNMZU324NM4iluwN1EkKMleyafvl1fwiQIN1BHWGnkPA2Kgy44GOA2CIY7IuCcxZ8JYEKtvQyBYg/s640/blogger-image--616720126.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSl4T8sJs6lSdiOMsQSRyZoIClNhsA4i25LC_gzheepIwrtBo1RfC-CZ4hgXBvf1apVBFblSx6lk3eU46D-bso9V-4Qka1mr_4-l8Wyz3QAAgQ-hmqGFaThKPsHeeg-iSRvFzMd6AdbEk/s640/blogger-image--1821315990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSl4T8sJs6lSdiOMsQSRyZoIClNhsA4i25LC_gzheepIwrtBo1RfC-CZ4hgXBvf1apVBFblSx6lk3eU46D-bso9V-4Qka1mr_4-l8Wyz3QAAgQ-hmqGFaThKPsHeeg-iSRvFzMd6AdbEk/s640/blogger-image--1821315990.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>i'm still working on my weight loss/fitness goals and am down about 30 lbs since june. i seem to be stuck at this point and am having a hard time getting past this little plateau. i'm working on eating more protein, which is definitely a challenge, and am incorporating more strength training into my exercise regimen. i still do some running on the treadmill, but not as much as i did this summer. consistency with healthy eating is tough all the time, but especially this time of year with so many celebrations, cookie exchanges, family gatherings, etc. sometimes it's frustrating to feel like i have to work so hard at this and even then don't always see the results i'd like. but that's the way it is so i'm trying to focus on making good choices and letting it go/moving on when things don't go as planned.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbhwkoXcskZFpNYAFIdC80IOKLlb7Y2w4iLEo0-OXxCsSXpEMKvDWpmTFAZTnkKAb91uZjSR-Cl4MkF0UvhQVP1TzawBSaQbpPZs9lN4pw721KjO4itlV7XPyPVcDlKjwaYbPtLYfpK4/s640/blogger-image-1760150601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbhwkoXcskZFpNYAFIdC80IOKLlb7Y2w4iLEo0-OXxCsSXpEMKvDWpmTFAZTnkKAb91uZjSR-Cl4MkF0UvhQVP1TzawBSaQbpPZs9lN4pw721KjO4itlV7XPyPVcDlKjwaYbPtLYfpK4/s640/blogger-image-1760150601.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>joe is busy with work, and just hit a huge milestone- $1,000,000 in sales for the year! it's a huge deal for reps to hit the million dollar mark and he worked really hard to get there. i'm super proud of him! he's playing pick-up basketball on wednesday nights and likes to get to the Y to play racquetball when he can as well.</div><div><br></div><div>so that's the latest! we are already really enjoying this christmas season together. it's the most wonderful time of the year!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTG5hKGWPrndixm-x7Yw5gaHX_ZBjkZ9zoU9OMvhayP17oSLcq3T-aHEqnET2oZEEddE31Wc2UhWnhrk2i2keOkqCyEEyKkAs6v2bp3DY6BmNpq7wjeJDJOpF_l6r0JpAdEyCxCDLI_c/s640/blogger-image--847806900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTG5hKGWPrndixm-x7Yw5gaHX_ZBjkZ9zoU9OMvhayP17oSLcq3T-aHEqnET2oZEEddE31Wc2UhWnhrk2i2keOkqCyEEyKkAs6v2bp3DY6BmNpq7wjeJDJOpF_l6r0JpAdEyCxCDLI_c/s640/blogger-image--847806900.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34irGnRs6RvifZ-ETiS7DdOZDp7U9UJ6EYbhZUzInzJUKqHbOBGcOST4_MGSp4IZxoCQu2EnSlvFtdTadIJyqUFUqjd9NAPuUw7niPDW5u54MbaVAY3uh0PLRkWNMeuwwVen267__nuY/s640/blogger-image-173854376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34irGnRs6RvifZ-ETiS7DdOZDp7U9UJ6EYbhZUzInzJUKqHbOBGcOST4_MGSp4IZxoCQu2EnSlvFtdTadIJyqUFUqjd9NAPuUw7niPDW5u54MbaVAY3uh0PLRkWNMeuwwVen267__nuY/s640/blogger-image-173854376.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-36099941233526735162014-10-20T07:04:00.001-07:002014-10-23T13:29:31.727-07:00updates.i guess blogging is low on my priority list these days... i can't seem to be consistent! oh well. you win some, you lose some.<div><div><br></div><div>there's been a lot going on at our house lately...</div><div><br></div><div>bennett is *mostly* potty trained! i don't remember the last time bennett had an accident (pee, that is). he has been such a champ and we are so proud of him. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">we even had our first successful #2 potty trip two days ago! sometimes i sit back and think, "wow. my son pooping on the potty was the highlight of my day. and i am completely fine with it." also, i need to remember how much better bennett does with these big transitions than i expect him to. i gear myself up for a disaster and always seem to be pleasantly surprised at how he manages to just roll with it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RHMrXAJKNaEUr_81uAjparxuTRDsZgRqXVr-ccdP8XErMlc-eTDGGHbwEAvNRMsHAaHy5wIeINzY8cvZfGJw37tJCi0WKkcg1M5dTe4_QqO7PP6x-EBKyFpRKDpqzKNlEOfVdEuMwG8/s640/blogger-image-988774221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RHMrXAJKNaEUr_81uAjparxuTRDsZgRqXVr-ccdP8XErMlc-eTDGGHbwEAvNRMsHAaHy5wIeINzY8cvZfGJw37tJCi0WKkcg1M5dTe4_QqO7PP6x-EBKyFpRKDpqzKNlEOfVdEuMwG8/s640/blogger-image-988774221.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><br></div><div>we did a little cry it out at our house last weekend with hunter. i'm not aiming for sleeping through the night yet- he's only in the 10th percentile for weight (despite his nickname, chub chub) and can't go 12 hours without eating. but it was getting to the point where he was hardly going 4 hours without eating. at 7 months old he should be able to do a bit better than that. we had one rough night of crying (1.5 hours, on and off) but since then he has been doing much better. his typical nights have been something like this: bed at 7:30-8ish, up at 2am and 6am to eat, up for the day around 7. much more manageable.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUUgReZl-22VXMFapLdq-Kcv_BpEoLl1atuzzMV3xPKo2TeRLS2eM7OoZJy6UOPyDm1ubu-lvVOp_7SVARfD4gZkPs6zeZjrKD5058hEabqwfDxeW9ZPxgtO_eAqTDGhXNGGL9dvUK6A/s640/blogger-image-976602198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUUgReZl-22VXMFapLdq-Kcv_BpEoLl1atuzzMV3xPKo2TeRLS2eM7OoZJy6UOPyDm1ubu-lvVOp_7SVARfD4gZkPs6zeZjrKD5058hEabqwfDxeW9ZPxgtO_eAqTDGhXNGGL9dvUK6A/s640/blogger-image-976602198.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>i started my new work-from-home job last week and it's going pretty well so far. i try to do 2-3 hours of work each weekday, usually when the boys are napping from 1-3 or 4. it feels good to have something of my own to do and to earn some extra money without having to sacrifice time with the boys.</div></div><div><br></div><div>we got to see the wienke cousins last weekend and celebrate whitney, martin and charlie's birthdays. the boys LOVE their cousins and they all have such a great time together. we wish they lived closer. here are some pictures from the party...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsKrZqNxL4FnMjC-XkI6aSJTwdUZornIlfu2alG-hXNKcB7clEfpS9MgOsDrMHvnMnjVNcHHRUjwYkyamTjK0NcDt1ZHDQZxhUnILh7mi9R1kgGYrnlOxDZMJQ2wyK6WIrE9WUBmUEPk/s640/blogger-image-291238789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsKrZqNxL4FnMjC-XkI6aSJTwdUZornIlfu2alG-hXNKcB7clEfpS9MgOsDrMHvnMnjVNcHHRUjwYkyamTjK0NcDt1ZHDQZxhUnILh7mi9R1kgGYrnlOxDZMJQ2wyK6WIrE9WUBmUEPk/s640/blogger-image-291238789.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFFCEweAfGWi9LYtGg-WByY0pASpbFjvAZJp26ho824fEh_swHzf3eopMHFd6kaGbz-Ihok5iaw2mnYx-pCk8MWodUIJM5-brssK-eS8LlikeChUl9f4aVwoYFuAemxe8Ww9WndzZFgY/s640/blogger-image--1238082584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFFCEweAfGWi9LYtGg-WByY0pASpbFjvAZJp26ho824fEh_swHzf3eopMHFd6kaGbz-Ihok5iaw2mnYx-pCk8MWodUIJM5-brssK-eS8LlikeChUl9f4aVwoYFuAemxe8Ww9WndzZFgY/s640/blogger-image--1238082584.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM65QEuCtiZqjxT36JIBOgNt_0zFUPxpJ1m862EddwRKDUP0Sxp9AO2jU2tYfclYPJNx6mYlKa0Pr1VUOrHTvSjVNYZGx80RXaZ_H_WpG7t-OUz7OvNrr8Mn349uXr1IJaIipVsxhyphenhyphenOk/s640/blogger-image-1954242818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM65QEuCtiZqjxT36JIBOgNt_0zFUPxpJ1m862EddwRKDUP0Sxp9AO2jU2tYfclYPJNx6mYlKa0Pr1VUOrHTvSjVNYZGx80RXaZ_H_WpG7t-OUz7OvNrr8Mn349uXr1IJaIipVsxhyphenhyphenOk/s640/blogger-image-1954242818.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidF9I7ENu8IhinnWLg5xdEbK8Q3m74IQCDJDUDvtRPfL0vgUyJBocXpDUoZsUSXrn7dZdyz-sSRdLNlAAuY0g6FoIJ0yO3SJNBGIaLiL53fPqyILbw191U_Q7PFr2eHy0TfX9-QEInyfw/s640/blogger-image--804216746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidF9I7ENu8IhinnWLg5xdEbK8Q3m74IQCDJDUDvtRPfL0vgUyJBocXpDUoZsUSXrn7dZdyz-sSRdLNlAAuY0g6FoIJ0yO3SJNBGIaLiL53fPqyILbw191U_Q7PFr2eHy0TfX9-QEInyfw/s640/blogger-image--804216746.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuEoLbr3StZXG_Q_yGtIW7G64QagKEgq1wIZxXTPrMy-MhIaiy6A8lEOCY3MWnDvjxetcMvqX6xKyDmpv3NBL6FBmsXI1tc3i25Q7dwqU5-9ZgIKXHltF6OuQ-nex1ZrubPnB_FQRL9w/s640/blogger-image--945538037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuEoLbr3StZXG_Q_yGtIW7G64QagKEgq1wIZxXTPrMy-MhIaiy6A8lEOCY3MWnDvjxetcMvqX6xKyDmpv3NBL6FBmsXI1tc3i25Q7dwqU5-9ZgIKXHltF6OuQ-nex1ZrubPnB_FQRL9w/s640/blogger-image--945538037.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>and a few other recent pics...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVktcE55BXUAe-JI8j6R7tZK32ko2Vjg7GyV7h38usJDRjEQXDsoOnoUGYDXr5p0kC8dm9Z5lC9_HIP-2Aju1WaILf1dSm4DY9yP0XEZWvaxWr8cbzMEsqmGDbB9ar9cPH_t2cqgoMhg/s640/blogger-image-1982139786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVktcE55BXUAe-JI8j6R7tZK32ko2Vjg7GyV7h38usJDRjEQXDsoOnoUGYDXr5p0kC8dm9Z5lC9_HIP-2Aju1WaILf1dSm4DY9yP0XEZWvaxWr8cbzMEsqmGDbB9ar9cPH_t2cqgoMhg/s640/blogger-image-1982139786.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlr5Ol1dd1H6_z_dlY5ZiwmU9Grc-sQ-GimtJPHVr5MmhbmwPTaRX0saY4zAwbDQzkHcNAvl1Wzo6sBwvQTEI3rEEIV1pAZC3ebxwSoMXx4Tbb8Xh8kgbQBKq0VphuzN7UDIPpx6bIv8/s640/blogger-image--1513239178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlr5Ol1dd1H6_z_dlY5ZiwmU9Grc-sQ-GimtJPHVr5MmhbmwPTaRX0saY4zAwbDQzkHcNAvl1Wzo6sBwvQTEI3rEEIV1pAZC3ebxwSoMXx4Tbb8Xh8kgbQBKq0VphuzN7UDIPpx6bIv8/s640/blogger-image--1513239178.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKH_vICXozT5DnOZYI8bPHdiNjf6ugAwurrM_B8_27u1VPWn2z7PF5Q-jXbmVpF_M_Tpg93RvUo_6d5GVX-7rOk561sv67sjd244cYwKS2XMVTtshdctNWs18eOYBo4zyb1KoDW01tC8/s640/blogger-image-1238187357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKH_vICXozT5DnOZYI8bPHdiNjf6ugAwurrM_B8_27u1VPWn2z7PF5Q-jXbmVpF_M_Tpg93RvUo_6d5GVX-7rOk561sv67sjd244cYwKS2XMVTtshdctNWs18eOYBo4zyb1KoDW01tC8/s640/blogger-image-1238187357.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqjmbGhvFQIK-9m5jwG67_zUugzz-qXLdYzQ9VMnnzMO3AUSacVt8flIBl3W7B0OwyTKesbZo-C5TGQhax6THKoS2NTpoHaQkqTCdQhN_n3tl0YaW_f1fOsflo-acpIzZjamTserrjA8/s640/blogger-image-420917442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqjmbGhvFQIK-9m5jwG67_zUugzz-qXLdYzQ9VMnnzMO3AUSacVt8flIBl3W7B0OwyTKesbZo-C5TGQhax6THKoS2NTpoHaQkqTCdQhN_n3tl0YaW_f1fOsflo-acpIzZjamTserrjA8/s640/blogger-image-420917442.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>i'll be doing posts on potty training tips, weight loss, and some parenting things i've learned lately, so check back soon for those!</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-37300993805664457262014-09-29T07:30:00.001-07:002014-09-29T12:15:12.223-07:00potty training.so potty training has been fairly successful. i mean, i've never done this before so i really don't know how our progress measures against where it "should" be 3 days in, but it <i>seems</i> like it's been successful so far. we have had about 5-6 accidents total since friday night, and none at home since naptime yesterday. this post probably won't be all that interesting but i wanted to document what we have done so far since [i guess] we will eventually have to do this again when hunter is old enough. i'm holding out hope hunter will potty train himself. he is gifted like that.<div><br></div><div>so first we scheduled "potty training weekend" on our calendar once we agreed we thought bennett was ready. as it got closer i kept hoping joe would bail us out by saying we should wait, but no such luck. potty training was on.</div><div><br></div><div>friday when the boys got up from nap we headed to target for our potty training supplies. $85 later (seriously) we were fully equipped. and we already had a little potty. we armed ourselves with: several packs of undies that bennett picked out (think: dusty crophopper and lightning mcqueen), pull-ups, a potty seat to go on the big potty, juice, peanut butter m&m's, and carpet cleaner.</div><div><br></div><div>we planned to start saturday morning but when we got home from target on friday night bennett was so excited about his undies we figured there was no time like the present. we said "let's try on our undies and try going on the potty!" he waltzed right up there and peed on the potty. i literally almost had a stroke. i had prepared myself for many unsuccessful attempts before he ever actually went. (typical of me to expect the worst. ughh, lay off, i'm working on it.) we celebrated with hugs, cheers, high fives, and of course a round of peanut butter m&m's (mom and dad deserve chocolate too, right?).</div><div><br></div><div>friday night bennett went probably 6 times on the potty and didn't have a single accident. we put a diaper on him at night (we will tackle nighttime/naptime after we get daytime down). saturday we had some accidents but bennett definitely was upset by them- he wanted us to clean them up right away and get new undies on. he pooped in his undies, too- poop training is harder because you have so many fewer times to practice!</div><div><br></div><div>sunday we had a rough morning with some accidents and what can now be referred to as "the poop showdown" where we basically confined bennett to the bathroom because we knew he needed to go but wouldn't. eventually (over an hour later) the packer game was starting so we caved and let him out, but said he had to be naked from the waist down. i figured we had no chance of him going in the potty if he had the opportunity to go in his undies. we made it to naptime without an accident and i was pleasantly surprised when he didn't go in his pull-up during his nap.</div><div><br></div><div>we decided to stick with the naked thing when we are at home (i read a lot and many people say this is the best method to potty train) and we didn't have anymore accidents the rest of the day sunday. we caught him trying to poop and made it to the potty just in time! not quite pooping on the potty but i call it a win. also we took a family trip to target with bennett in undies. he sat on the potty there but didn't go- but no accidents and made it home still dry!</div><div><br></div><div>today he got up and peed right away on the potty and we had a good morning accident-free. bennett even told me he needed to go potty multiple times on his own without a reminder! hunter had his 6 month well visit this morning so we ventured out in undies again. we went to the potty at the doctor's office multiple times but he didn't want to sit on the big potty and inevitably had an accident. we put a pull-up on and he kept that dry until he went on the potty when we got home. </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">so that's that. potty training success so far. hoping we continue making strides!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxz0QGeJ7l0H7za5e3TzXuIquZ3W4X2fxgqGpP7iaozfjmqK1i0uXudF8FJYNn34TNgv2UrTO-CWQpeSvquueG4_BsLHo_qeAROcrD3ZEsWQjCJstsGoud9Vhe8DWBFdOMKDOyZN9GIZ4/s640/blogger-image--9466605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxz0QGeJ7l0H7za5e3TzXuIquZ3W4X2fxgqGpP7iaozfjmqK1i0uXudF8FJYNn34TNgv2UrTO-CWQpeSvquueG4_BsLHo_qeAROcrD3ZEsWQjCJstsGoud9Vhe8DWBFdOMKDOyZN9GIZ4/s640/blogger-image--9466605.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-56720481691366342152014-09-28T17:35:00.001-07:002014-09-28T17:44:44.951-07:00remember me?it's been a while! life is busy and time has just gotten away from me. a lot of things to update so here we go!<div><br></div><div>work is busy for joe- a good thing! he's got a lot of things in the works and has made some good progress with some "big fish" in his territory as of late. he's had a couple business trips so far this fall and has a couple more planned in october/november. assuming things continue to go as they have been, joe is on target to sell over a million dollars this year, which is a big accomplishment and will result in an award at wright's national sales meeting in february and a commission raise for next year. so proud of him!</div><div><br></div><div>joe and i spent labor day weekend in chicago to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. it was weird to be away from the boys for nearly 5 days but it was super relaxing and a lot of fun. the boys did great with my mom and dad at the lake in wisconsin. although i will say my parents were probably ready for more quiet and less bubble guppies by the end!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGtZbxn7je_-3j1K1Y08Npw6_FHedj6ho__vUMSGq1b7Sc-4odtHOs4C1Mq0AC7W1WiT5aDsK-t4y_TftGGlTN7N2k6R1wcqsMTKzFLWso2APJ84WJIPEOMMXViutGNKzjhIWVI7GIkM/s640/blogger-image-1794694780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGtZbxn7je_-3j1K1Y08Npw6_FHedj6ho__vUMSGq1b7Sc-4odtHOs4C1Mq0AC7W1WiT5aDsK-t4y_TftGGlTN7N2k6R1wcqsMTKzFLWso2APJ84WJIPEOMMXViutGNKzjhIWVI7GIkM/s640/blogger-image-1794694780.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2k-PWDWDq9ATLgsPj04xcLZD9EvrBYPWEDK3usRtcdS7fjM1bEtbPH48-3pI226o4iUxV1_s8Z_GF92tyIbtizQON0YoFikyuX6sqWPdpMceDAvd7RgpJ_mrFS25scurMpYQ7jXp66yw/s640/blogger-image-948954763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2k-PWDWDq9ATLgsPj04xcLZD9EvrBYPWEDK3usRtcdS7fjM1bEtbPH48-3pI226o4iUxV1_s8Z_GF92tyIbtizQON0YoFikyuX6sqWPdpMceDAvd7RgpJ_mrFS25scurMpYQ7jXp66yw/s640/blogger-image-948954763.jpg"></a></div>helping papa mow the lawn!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7S46rNlM6PJcaUj89uyZ-ZtDHTX_M6HaNKtMDZTBnWtCKaI_psZO5DCK7xlQ7d-K2xSgHD51oFkJ1iqZlrKfQo8yyFF5eGdLieHq3iOzR6l9jEGp2Qm6P0hEi2qXdlJJ-V7yTzVPEKU/s640/blogger-image-675135734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7S46rNlM6PJcaUj89uyZ-ZtDHTX_M6HaNKtMDZTBnWtCKaI_psZO5DCK7xlQ7d-K2xSgHD51oFkJ1iqZlrKfQo8yyFF5eGdLieHq3iOzR6l9jEGp2Qm6P0hEi2qXdlJJ-V7yTzVPEKU/s640/blogger-image-675135734.jpg"></a></div>bath time with mimi</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-iNczWMik1DPQhro7-zfVcDpPklCWD3qcWuXrEvyzpat8R04B6xxNBP7Rr4iVZzAlrbn4Efy8hI3Tk4RE21bnRsNV-Tb46uTo1Jw2EmJsEs1niJi9Lf5ZlchIPLAc-umpl10ABACkYI/s640/blogger-image-418553847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-iNczWMik1DPQhro7-zfVcDpPklCWD3qcWuXrEvyzpat8R04B6xxNBP7Rr4iVZzAlrbn4Efy8hI3Tk4RE21bnRsNV-Tb46uTo1Jw2EmJsEs1niJi9Lf5ZlchIPLAc-umpl10ABACkYI/s640/blogger-image-418553847.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBTKL0m0ppt5LCVM3cLwK0-CR8_M65IFCnXFGhAnnlp7IoMorzhpreO5ovfPdabGr6qyKtKBpyi4wJgYjfj6uWc3WEN7kcS4XFRG2E2d7oKKXAfxaImq3-QKBrRPqQQY0IT8F1BGRuGI/s640/blogger-image--159929800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBTKL0m0ppt5LCVM3cLwK0-CR8_M65IFCnXFGhAnnlp7IoMorzhpreO5ovfPdabGr6qyKtKBpyi4wJgYjfj6uWc3WEN7kcS4XFRG2E2d7oKKXAfxaImq3-QKBrRPqQQY0IT8F1BGRuGI/s640/blogger-image--159929800.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYBAYPf7cmMdttr3em0S7Ii5l3Pim0cPlXIYwuwshc50Cazv5wnzIc1FhFePf1JYQ8ac4K4dWkyaz3ztl2XyGPIOXsvwyjUDmgNPlNRKE05qDCCnNx7f33xicMh0wCefyXdLXahK4S5Y/s640/blogger-image-1121690478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYBAYPf7cmMdttr3em0S7Ii5l3Pim0cPlXIYwuwshc50Cazv5wnzIc1FhFePf1JYQ8ac4K4dWkyaz3ztl2XyGPIOXsvwyjUDmgNPlNRKE05qDCCnNx7f33xicMh0wCefyXdLXahK4S5Y/s640/blogger-image-1121690478.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>bennett started going to his old daycare with miss becky on mondays this fall and is loving it (and so is mama!). they walk to the library for story time, do lots of activities outside, and have sharing time. bennett is loving learning about moses in the BSF kids program on thursday mornings and being in the tiger room every other wednesday while i'm in MOPS.</div><div><br></div><div>also this weekend we started working on potty training with bennett.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7qAI7ewc5YRNlqtBp0n77zTNQDMNftuBjufMLtRg0wPMKK_XwwU4Gm3uwhQkY398Gov74c0kKi6YDNJN2DWVfvPwFGzealirO-6UsxCMGRf0yp9RRkF8ZUi_Vxb4d1tkgSNjG9Kmxoo/s640/blogger-image-274949017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7qAI7ewc5YRNlqtBp0n77zTNQDMNftuBjufMLtRg0wPMKK_XwwU4Gm3uwhQkY398Gov74c0kKi6YDNJN2DWVfvPwFGzealirO-6UsxCMGRf0yp9RRkF8ZUi_Vxb4d1tkgSNjG9Kmxoo/s640/blogger-image-274949017.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>he's doing great! he has only had a handful of accidents and we have been super proud of him. the funniest part of the weekend was when bennett called mimi to tell her he went on the potty. he ended up saying, "mimi! watch this!" and then proceeded to pee on the potty on facetime with my mom. silly goose.</div><div><br></div><div>hunter is 6 months old today!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxwQoTM2oFKAQFeVrdh2jNepflwFGNrBJTXlYWFacQary-6kyMZJgxJXLgNH2g0yhyphenhyphenGZsvMSm0klmTxiNos2fEBUfptGeYOGkItalZiDk1yTXDMZ9fAlM6fDeHKDBTEzgLkkgrAB87Q4/s640/blogger-image-2142256412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxwQoTM2oFKAQFeVrdh2jNepflwFGNrBJTXlYWFacQary-6kyMZJgxJXLgNH2g0yhyphenhyphenGZsvMSm0klmTxiNos2fEBUfptGeYOGkItalZiDk1yTXDMZ9fAlM6fDeHKDBTEzgLkkgrAB87Q4/s640/blogger-image-2142256412.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>i just can't get over it. he is such a joy- always happy and smiling. he puts himself to sleep and takes great naps. we are still waking up a couple times a night to eat, but i'm hoping that will resolve itself soon. if not, we will have to think about crying it out... not yet though. he had his first solid food today (besides rice cereal/oatmeal)- avocado! he LOVED it and ate 1/4 of a mashed avocado then cried for more!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbZPlk7IU4yM0wZwHYO0kuZ4QiE3fv6UWSBJLaJ8NbfqtcUP3HZKtfEP5ek2MuUgjNChqI_enrECDHfed1KVHHo-qXnm7kbKorgEJhFiMWt7Lv7AFpFYNHaXCpuON1whRDgo6-BZbKAI/s640/blogger-image--780030734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbZPlk7IU4yM0wZwHYO0kuZ4QiE3fv6UWSBJLaJ8NbfqtcUP3HZKtfEP5ek2MuUgjNChqI_enrECDHfed1KVHHo-qXnm7kbKorgEJhFiMWt7Lv7AFpFYNHaXCpuON1whRDgo6-BZbKAI/s640/blogger-image--780030734.jpg"></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">bennett hated avocado but hunter couldn't get enough. he's still taking zantac for his reflux and doing great.</span></div><div><br></div><div>as for me, i'm involved in BSF and MOPS and really enjoying those activities. i am still working at this weight loss thing- down over 25 lbs to date :) i haven't been able to work out quite as frequently as i had been now that summer is over and we are busier during the week but i'm getting to the gym about 4x a week.</div><div><br></div><div>also, i was recently contacted by an old boss from family innovations who has since left to be the treatment director at minnesota teen challenge. he asked if i would be interested in doing some work for them from home in credentialing and contracting (essentially exactly what i did at family innovations). so i accepted a contracted position as credentialing lead and will be working 10-15 hours a week from home! it's a great opportunity for me to make some extra money but still be able to be with my boys full time. i'm excited and grateful for the opportunity!</div><div><br></div><div>that's the latest in the wienke world! i'll try to be better about posting more regularly!</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-86086260107328657272014-08-14T13:06:00.001-07:002014-08-14T13:12:31.784-07:00on a roll. or a run.as you know if you've been reading for a while, i've been actively working on losing weight for about two and a half months now. i gained a lot more weight with hunter than i intended (thank you, poptarts) and taking it off is proving to be far more difficult than putting it on. but, i'm having success and i'm excited to see my hard work paying off. since june 6th (10 weeks) i've lost 15 pounds! also, i took measurements on june 30th (kicking myself for not taking them when I started!) and then took them again today. in six and a half weeks i've lost 7 inches: 1" from my bust, 2" from my waist, 2.5" from my hips, and 1.5" from my arm. i will take it!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwzqVFJ0VBjjpK6xX9HoC-qUYSFUHKA30s0R2C6bt8qIlJ6bwgCKXib-9wpOmt-JaFbII9M7_po1uNnSdVcN3Ps66si0pj2WhX33B9VP2krBJpCJW-M3Ft9AXqCfU3rdt6BZSaaQ6VRE/s640/blogger-image-337616085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwzqVFJ0VBjjpK6xX9HoC-qUYSFUHKA30s0R2C6bt8qIlJ6bwgCKXib-9wpOmt-JaFbII9M7_po1uNnSdVcN3Ps66si0pj2WhX33B9VP2krBJpCJW-M3Ft9AXqCfU3rdt6BZSaaQ6VRE/s640/blogger-image-337616085.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>also, if you know me at all you know i don't run. like, ever.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dbVx3YpTS2-BWcRI1uQ5IZasR2_uQD40nXLL0g5P1vI9Ed7O5onPhHjNUPHQNEfU2OTYEcm7aTEPaIHICseZVR_w53IyCt6IS4G-2F6FpYNMsp_ZT0NThXTOudWr0SIVWbgNPgVjGow/s640/blogger-image--1677847330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dbVx3YpTS2-BWcRI1uQ5IZasR2_uQD40nXLL0g5P1vI9Ed7O5onPhHjNUPHQNEfU2OTYEcm7aTEPaIHICseZVR_w53IyCt6IS4G-2F6FpYNMsp_ZT0NThXTOudWr0SIVWbgNPgVjGow/s640/blogger-image--1677847330.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>well, apparently that's no longer the case. i mentioned before that joe decided to train for a 10k and that i reluctantly agreed to do some of the training runs with him.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdjJRdv1wzHyt8ax07pBhQLrpzL8MhsZF2h5UwRwBWGSkXv9al9QD-GW4stuypm6aYKCTDy9W_wdyUr8tKgs60dOyoBxsJnnZ2mzVtjwQ7LpGwhQkzbpvmDGLoB6WTChyphenhyphenZTuOjiqH5M0/s640/blogger-image-379817466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdjJRdv1wzHyt8ax07pBhQLrpzL8MhsZF2h5UwRwBWGSkXv9al9QD-GW4stuypm6aYKCTDy9W_wdyUr8tKgs60dOyoBxsJnnZ2mzVtjwQ7LpGwhQkzbpvmDGLoB6WTChyphenhyphenZTuOjiqH5M0/s640/blogger-image-379817466.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>we started with running one minute, walking two minutes, repeat.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5v3K6UDz96rSDMxesYFyp6KGmomV74DqUMMJJ2352wk2zDzcSPe2tVKfg4ZnLgMJpyubhBmpGVO7K7YHIlK1J0x_QQXd3UzYug-BuYxbL37vpBY_wJ32tiVz1vcckI-d9cBFwGYa2fA/s640/blogger-image-843997145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5v3K6UDz96rSDMxesYFyp6KGmomV74DqUMMJJ2352wk2zDzcSPe2tVKfg4ZnLgMJpyubhBmpGVO7K7YHIlK1J0x_QQXd3UzYug-BuYxbL37vpBY_wJ32tiVz1vcckI-d9cBFwGYa2fA/s640/blogger-image-843997145.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>since then we have gradually increased our running intervals and decreased our walking intervals. it's been fun to do together and joe has been extremely encouraging.</div><div><br></div><div>honestly, for me running has been a major source of anxiety for most of my life. i literally tried to fake sick every time i knew we had to do the mile run fitness test in gym class all through grade school (you can ask my mom). i have always been slow and absolutely hated being one of the last to finish the run, especially because at my school all the kids sat on the bleachers by the track when they were done with the mile and waited for everyone else to finish. so not only was i slow, but my lack of athleticism seemed to be on display for all my peers to see. it sounds dramatic but it was truly a traumatizing experience for me looking back and i remember thinking i'd never run again once i didn't have to for school.</div><div><br></div><div>but i think that sense of inadequacy or failure around running has been a roadblock throughout my journey toward fitness and a happy/healthy weight. it's one of those nagging voices in my mind saying "you don't have what it takes." but i'm really getting to a different place mentally. no longer are my motivations for eating less and working out merely skin-deep. i want to achieve the things that i have been telling myself i can't for as long as i can remember, and that includes being a "runner." don't get me wrong, i'm not setting out to run a marathon or anything. and not because i don't think i can, but because i don't have the desire or the time to commit to it. but i want to push myself to do things like 5 and 10k races, and maybe even someday a half marathon.</div><div><br></div><div>on monday i ran 3 miles without stopping a single time to walk. it's the first time in my life i've ever run that far without stopping. i mapped out a 3 mile loop around my neighborhood and set out with the goal of running the whole thing. <b>it. was. hard.</b> there were a few hills i thought would never end and i wanted to stop so badly a couple of times. but i didn't. i know my body can do more than my head says it can and proving that voice that says "you can't" is what was most rewarding.</div><div><br></div><div>joe wants us to sign up for the twin cities monster dash 10 mile race on october 25th. i'm not sure about it yet- 10 miles is a loooong way to run. but the fact that it sounds so scary is what makes me think i should take the plunge and do it. stay tuned...</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-71644283563342129762014-08-10T14:19:00.001-07:002014-08-10T14:19:16.031-07:004 months.this post is a little late, but that's basically the theme of my life so there ya have it.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wzLbVjz_feFyIlxn1pFT8DmhE_VTC04Yjhyphenhyphenk85-qvjpZUcaYx8QBW_zLttjoSX2Ub42oLQ0_lFiokUhcvzfEdhcPvR-IWJyqiXcmY4jw6ODUcu3YHa_85TRU49yigAijar8JozxGNJA/s640/blogger-image--1522485444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wzLbVjz_feFyIlxn1pFT8DmhE_VTC04Yjhyphenhyphenk85-qvjpZUcaYx8QBW_zLttjoSX2Ub42oLQ0_lFiokUhcvzfEdhcPvR-IWJyqiXcmY4jw6ODUcu3YHa_85TRU49yigAijar8JozxGNJA/s640/blogger-image--1522485444.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>my sweet hunter joseph is 4 months old. he is a smiley, happy, easy going little guy and such a joy in our lives. we hit a little snag about 3 weeks ago when hunter started having a felt rough time eating and seemed extremely distressed immediately after eating. he's always spit up a lot but he started arching his back and screaming mid-feeding and was nearly inconsolable sometimes after eating. i brought him to the doctor a week ago and she told me he has acid reflux. poor buddy. but he has honestly been a brand new man since starting zantac and nursing seems to be a pleasant experience again rather than a distressing one. so glad we got that resolved quickly!</div><div><br></div><div>hunter is still wanting to eat every 2-2.5 hours during the day. he's also eating rice cereal 1-2 times a day (supposedly helps with reflux) and LOVES it. he gobbles it up so fast and smiles a ton while eating.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw10GqUz475oEBGIYAoB_zLR-0yULlMHt6VC5NEyAotaN5Jhsg0Ef-wnyihDXeXCzCzHuSJfU4OALirXFILbqqlubjUzfaknKDLJC-ifxYe347KmQgOXjntctEA92EWr-3GCJGthkKoc4/s640/blogger-image--1382111378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw10GqUz475oEBGIYAoB_zLR-0yULlMHt6VC5NEyAotaN5Jhsg0Ef-wnyihDXeXCzCzHuSJfU4OALirXFILbqqlubjUzfaknKDLJC-ifxYe347KmQgOXjntctEA92EWr-3GCJGthkKoc4/s640/blogger-image--1382111378.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y98pvYzwlbzJ76itg1c4aVcf7nRgIX8proENxHX5USnZGkpP6xr-Q5KOZaTPM064v9p6UaAk3lXmV0ZnwjJSXCwoTY4BSiSpLFUWlVmE2STWA4L06-UozS5zCQ0M65fe0h-5Vh8uvv8/s640/blogger-image-1418626632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y98pvYzwlbzJ76itg1c4aVcf7nRgIX8proENxHX5USnZGkpP6xr-Q5KOZaTPM064v9p6UaAk3lXmV0ZnwjJSXCwoTY4BSiSpLFUWlVmE2STWA4L06-UozS5zCQ0M65fe0h-5Vh8uvv8/s640/blogger-image-1418626632.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>the 3-4 month sleep regression hit us hard. but we seem to be back in the groove now. typically hunter goes to bed around 8:30pm and sleeps 6-7 hours, wakes to eat, and goes back down for 3-4 more hours. he's also taking several short naps and one long nap (usually 1:30-3:30 or 4) each day. he still gets swaddled (arms in) for his long nap and at night. his shorter naps are often in the car seat or the mamaroo if we are home.</div><div><br></div><div>hunter is super chatty like his big brother and is extremely ticklish! it's so fun to tickle him and hear his sweet laugh. he's loving reaching for things lately and chomping on his hands (or anything else he can find). he loves his nuk too. he also really likes rides in the stroller, sitting in his bumbo, and is starting to warm up to the jumperoo. being carried in the ergo is hit or miss on whether or not he likes it, but we keep trying :-)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMI97YzNmAFIlvaXV7m94kiUpM2WujN0cnJQX3wnlCJS6Hyt4lwpdEzoB_Lmohi66hRnMG-vzAKr_5TOOApaytkEcuWB2eUV96zr1sO78oM2nL044szyMcWYIYVVgA2OI18XdBWu6x9I/s640/blogger-image--553660041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMI97YzNmAFIlvaXV7m94kiUpM2WujN0cnJQX3wnlCJS6Hyt4lwpdEzoB_Lmohi66hRnMG-vzAKr_5TOOApaytkEcuWB2eUV96zr1sO78oM2nL044szyMcWYIYVVgA2OI18XdBWu6x9I/s640/blogger-image--553660041.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMg49sB4OkppPfBZkTgUS984XR2As7oR7XjrTRdQVbLMmeRdEqajRsgS4w5hGG1A-JdNmFaGq2D8E1ZdgH21KUgJPTugC6freDLbROd8_DhE2SO09qVaE1_P5V2tmy58JaG4NUYT80Kyc/s640/blogger-image--778360197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMg49sB4OkppPfBZkTgUS984XR2As7oR7XjrTRdQVbLMmeRdEqajRsgS4w5hGG1A-JdNmFaGq2D8E1ZdgH21KUgJPTugC6freDLbROd8_DhE2SO09qVaE1_P5V2tmy58JaG4NUYT80Kyc/s640/blogger-image--778360197.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1_iuZ6jjSgKzBY3A-LtowXtonVv0LaHdk4en2TPXoYCqx0Xnbb0lcjua4gDflu9nFutYFZXKlvIsssazzfJwQ152mWvEaBGgkxNUM177J7bUJRIzeokRK2OQ1I3x_Ho9fHkkTDnsX08/s640/blogger-image-1394408794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1_iuZ6jjSgKzBY3A-LtowXtonVv0LaHdk4en2TPXoYCqx0Xnbb0lcjua4gDflu9nFutYFZXKlvIsssazzfJwQ152mWvEaBGgkxNUM177J7bUJRIzeokRK2OQ1I3x_Ho9fHkkTDnsX08/s640/blogger-image-1394408794.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCfdk9IRFZHD-_H5qTSQmVL9zyFOTU5D6JQIK3OA1DleW97wLneQswqaQu3QovUNqk5JzFdHIiajpjQZXJqnQrneLx30cvHbvns2fCa-SRctshPWEan6BY6BhcsqvtO5ZSxLZDKt-w5k/s640/blogger-image-210255982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCfdk9IRFZHD-_H5qTSQmVL9zyFOTU5D6JQIK3OA1DleW97wLneQswqaQu3QovUNqk5JzFdHIiajpjQZXJqnQrneLx30cvHbvns2fCa-SRctshPWEan6BY6BhcsqvtO5ZSxLZDKt-w5k/s640/blogger-image-210255982.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-56467469401114783672014-07-25T09:50:00.001-07:002014-07-25T09:50:08.989-07:00active choices.weight loss is tough. it's hard to make choices everyday that are healthy despite tons of opportunities to do just the opposite. as much as weight loss is about behaviors (what/how much you eat, exercise) i am learning that the majority of the battle is mental. it's a choice, plain and simple. yes, you need to find a "plan" that works for you, determine the right amount of calories that keeps you full but allows for weight loss, etc. but at the end of the day, it's about choosing to stick to something. deciding that you want to reach your goal more than you want the dessert everyone else is enjoying when you're out of calories for the day. going for that jog or to that class at the gym even when you're tired or getting over a cold. it's about active choices.<div><br></div><div>so often i've acted like things just "happen" to me... weekends, dinners out, parties, vacations. i've let those things be my reasons for making bad choices but acting like they weren't choices at all. like i was a passive victim of circumstance. in reality, i'm making my choices, good or bad. and i want to feel good about the choices i'm making. i want to see results and reach my goals. that's why, despite calorie tracking and exercise being tough, i keep at it. it doesn't feel as hard to stick to it when i've made up my mind that this is what i want.</div><div><br></div><div>it's been helpful that joe is not only supportive of my goals but he has fitness goals of his own. he's challenging me to start jogging because it's something i've always said i couldn't do. i never run. like never. except my mouth. but that unfortunately doesn't burn many calories. joe started training for a 10k and has talked me into doing it with him (what?!?). he encourages me and tells me how proud he is of me and how hard i'm working. although yesterday on our walk/jog a snake jumped up from between slats on a bridge and i thought to myself, "this is why i don't run." seriously.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0tfdxYQAMShz0EN0IbqLtnbzCghk32_BYczL1q2eXWGrJASqTab_DO_NujzxyynBh5vsjIRMSn__5SkyO1QsJLPjdoDeEr67UyT4X4HM_WbgDShMmsdsJ8jteP9gKDgthlkvW-UleC0/s640/blogger-image-1548813073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0tfdxYQAMShz0EN0IbqLtnbzCghk32_BYczL1q2eXWGrJASqTab_DO_NujzxyynBh5vsjIRMSn__5SkyO1QsJLPjdoDeEr67UyT4X4HM_WbgDShMmsdsJ8jteP9gKDgthlkvW-UleC0/s640/blogger-image-1548813073.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>despite the snake attacks, i'm just going to persevere. i have things to prove to myself.</div><div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-41291822670094539692014-07-11T15:06:00.001-07:002014-07-22T11:53:30.035-07:00two.my best pal is officially two as of a few weeks ago.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhyphenhyphenf0aW5wcCOVMzVnvnp1yoUbdIQw0eH-TIzB_0zO8RLRKFh4aor_VMBZVpUGhT9fI51S9NYH4ljYy3LQejOZbERtY4kWQBe_9KnbWVTGnNy7vFS0d0bf01QR2QPNQ48OW2awP_tKiDE/s640/blogger-image-1704116933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhyphenhyphenf0aW5wcCOVMzVnvnp1yoUbdIQw0eH-TIzB_0zO8RLRKFh4aor_VMBZVpUGhT9fI51S9NYH4ljYy3LQejOZbERtY4kWQBe_9KnbWVTGnNy7vFS0d0bf01QR2QPNQ48OW2awP_tKiDE/s640/blogger-image-1704116933.jpg"></a></div>wearing dada's "workin" shoes to go do some mowing</div><div><br></div><div>i broke down crying on his birthday at one point like the true sap i am. he was singing with his cute little voice in the car and i just started thinking about how fleeting time is. too soon until he's speaking (singing) more clearly and not into little kid songs, dancing with me, and laughing about "who's the stinkiest, mama or dada?" i always call him my little love muffin and when i ask him, "are you my best friend?" he responds, "no, i a fuffin."</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6Y1QGosiq-MHa4eIhcFRntQPZ_SQ7zSlBcZ4FYbbD_VyMEVN8BHYysNElKQbdG9owGkES05f2mzeQJ62N3_A8F4_1ykTKMzHxMa2VuB1tCB7_MkgFA5Tn0uPymSVq9VmOy4mBUV4bZU/s640/blogger-image-2085930224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6Y1QGosiq-MHa4eIhcFRntQPZ_SQ7zSlBcZ4FYbbD_VyMEVN8BHYysNElKQbdG9owGkES05f2mzeQJ62N3_A8F4_1ykTKMzHxMa2VuB1tCB7_MkgFA5Tn0uPymSVq9VmOy4mBUV4bZU/s640/blogger-image-2085930224.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>bennett is still in a crib and will stay there, as far as i'm concerned, until he's in kindergarten. not really, but while hunter is still waking up in the night i would really rather not rock the boat with bennett's good sleeping if we don't need to. he typically goes to bed around 8:15pm and wakes up somewhere between 7-8am. he then takes a nap from about 1pm until 3:30-4pm (sometimes even later!). see why i don't want to mess with his sleep? although he's woken up crying in the middle of the night for the past couple nights... not sure what that's about but if he keeps doing that then maybe we will do the big boy bed sooner than later. we will see i guess!</div><div><br></div><div>joe and i love how polite bennett is and we are continually impressed by his use of "peas" (please), "fank you" (thank you), "bess you" (bless you), "a-cuse me" (excuse me), and "yelcome" (you're welcome). he also comes up with new things he's saying every day that surprise us and make us laugh like "of course," "it's awesome," and the latest "i be back."</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT0TCU9F3I86Z7wv5VpZGJ6mMFrwjaSW3-6ilE9c3YFv_fsXITi5UXbiRjaPMV5gYN4A1f4jDcyAETnRIxgr6nA0jVNScj76tZHNOI1wjYdUpRNWVFoojowEMgDk48I_AQjNYY1nn5kY/s640/blogger-image-1621228674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT0TCU9F3I86Z7wv5VpZGJ6mMFrwjaSW3-6ilE9c3YFv_fsXITi5UXbiRjaPMV5gYN4A1f4jDcyAETnRIxgr6nA0jVNScj76tZHNOI1wjYdUpRNWVFoojowEMgDk48I_AQjNYY1nn5kY/s640/blogger-image-1621228674.jpg"></a></div>watching sparky the seal at como zoo</div><div><br></div><div>bennett's favorite things to do are go to the park (he could swing for hours), look for "a-panes"and "ha-ca-coppers," play with bubbles, read books, and play or watch any sport there is. he recently watched toy story and now loves "cowboy" (and yelling "bee-haw!) and "buzz year." also, he's all of a sudden not afraid of water anymore and LOVES going swimming at the Y. it makes me so happy to see him enjoying the pool and not being so fearful.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCDa6vAmxfkpy67ot-aIwSmhrO_2JzeN3seAAVf5gb6NB8hy1RL2WcuJL0S9trkjLqRr6ChBWPz8WapcQgxHZfjpZ1d5kLSU8LoVO57gguokCHpyZdbkVLTbMQ8lH5L3HlCWIrtkDfLc/s640/blogger-image-432031028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCDa6vAmxfkpy67ot-aIwSmhrO_2JzeN3seAAVf5gb6NB8hy1RL2WcuJL0S9trkjLqRr6ChBWPz8WapcQgxHZfjpZ1d5kLSU8LoVO57gguokCHpyZdbkVLTbMQ8lH5L3HlCWIrtkDfLc/s640/blogger-image-432031028.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>favorite foods lately include hot dogs, mac n cheese, grapes, cheerios, french fries (fwa-fwies), applesauce (appa-ahhs), and of course ice cream (i-keem).</div><div><br></div><div>last but not least i truly think bennett's ultimate favorite thing is his brother hunter. he looooves hunter and gives him hugs and "mooches" all day long. he gets close to his face and says "hunter!" in a high-pitched voice and clicks his tongue at him, just like joe and i do. when he hears hunter fussing when waking up from a nap bennett gets excited and yells "hunter wake!" bennett is quick to tell me hunter needs a nuk when he's crying. it honestly amazes me every day watching bennett love on hunter and i am incredibly thankful for their bond and how much they love each other. hunter always smiles for bennett even when it seems like bennett is suffocating him with hugs and kisses.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ8fexmeJCoku4Xk8wRmZo5O3-JWGfN4qEafqH7opeVSX0y2HYvKvlds2NcDfsu2HhxQi4y4NFCdmkVxXcbVpWuagwu4ssvTmDhRFgD4T3zQnC2M_itIecTtHugwYSG3EP6bzeM7qTm0/s640/blogger-image-1033541382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ8fexmeJCoku4Xk8wRmZo5O3-JWGfN4qEafqH7opeVSX0y2HYvKvlds2NcDfsu2HhxQi4y4NFCdmkVxXcbVpWuagwu4ssvTmDhRFgD4T3zQnC2M_itIecTtHugwYSG3EP6bzeM7qTm0/s640/blogger-image-1033541382.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbKNHWNZm6Tb9sTrqd7vQ4TngrkauUYCHK2leP-fWO8TBDUQV_2oh5_SaHL4myWh7Xn_q1fdunV0c93B9_lzDwBkxzeMIwNkfbBRnrA6xCHOpFxJ1bdBB2mCGSQLqrhaqrIR3ZvyAIDA/s640/blogger-image--907906764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbKNHWNZm6Tb9sTrqd7vQ4TngrkauUYCHK2leP-fWO8TBDUQV_2oh5_SaHL4myWh7Xn_q1fdunV0c93B9_lzDwBkxzeMIwNkfbBRnrA6xCHOpFxJ1bdBB2mCGSQLqrhaqrIR3ZvyAIDA/s640/blogger-image--907906764.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHQQgzo7p1k5D5O5MJXbvolXsyeOtJhi1ywAytAOm1pLEejhEO5D6m8MiEQ5HRMWr52HOXI_H0EdlKOgA8k65dVRU9XoJKDOQVe9_sg4vtmeDfEP3JVAmeL2wXVMePo1QSA8dS-eAXa8/s640/blogger-image--82185119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHQQgzo7p1k5D5O5MJXbvolXsyeOtJhi1ywAytAOm1pLEejhEO5D6m8MiEQ5HRMWr52HOXI_H0EdlKOgA8k65dVRU9XoJKDOQVe9_sg4vtmeDfEP3JVAmeL2wXVMePo1QSA8dS-eAXa8/s640/blogger-image--82185119.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>this two year old has my heart.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtywths2mdUJXNGzwiBXoHvhR6CvcQ3s_x2ZeOXJhd7F7qLXOiiUgG-H7bZga3O_6vm_cgYXKX3RKpY2aPR69oLWldBrNGo7TJdcdwkVB07IUPZFvcTnzPgjaqVdf4JTRsANSiB3KsVQ/s640/blogger-image--1641526775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtywths2mdUJXNGzwiBXoHvhR6CvcQ3s_x2ZeOXJhd7F7qLXOiiUgG-H7bZga3O_6vm_cgYXKX3RKpY2aPR69oLWldBrNGo7TJdcdwkVB07IUPZFvcTnzPgjaqVdf4JTRsANSiB3KsVQ/s640/blogger-image--1641526775.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-18290151361476859522014-07-10T19:34:00.001-07:002014-07-10T19:34:44.309-07:00losing the baby weight update.i started using myfitnesspal to track my calories and prioritizing exercise about five weeks ago. a switch flipped in my head and i just made the commitment to losing weight. i got tired of feeling badly about myself and mentally vowing to "start again tomorrow" to justify stuffing myself full of crap today. too many "last hoorah's" and too few positive steps were just keeping me stuck in a cycle of defeat.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8XK3Gg1c8krsE7BQxLKZJHjAQEjBEogvzQBm93DzUxVT9rPtc-0YsOJnQWyMMMYQ4y6_75Byy4-1zyPNbxJQToDHgVRoK8s27vRz8Uiu2lR9U8lrt5Y0Yjsb-Qm5QwBlQ8z-v2oIVIE/s640/blogger-image-888743561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8XK3Gg1c8krsE7BQxLKZJHjAQEjBEogvzQBm93DzUxVT9rPtc-0YsOJnQWyMMMYQ4y6_75Byy4-1zyPNbxJQToDHgVRoK8s27vRz8Uiu2lR9U8lrt5Y0Yjsb-Qm5QwBlQ8z-v2oIVIE/s640/blogger-image-888743561.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">fishy four walk/run in chetek over the fourth</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIR-cOsVv8eSUbJBInIeN_bGgFzXoWG7S80cNalrhoA3BGEDPBeG5spuvJG1fZoHD8zHy3Sy4l0H0Lsoa9cUhVJxLbD-DB7njTC9fPdz0sQYsKfVP5QryX0ekRLDWCOnyqQutpna7wZY/s640/blogger-image-343013943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIR-cOsVv8eSUbJBInIeN_bGgFzXoWG7S80cNalrhoA3BGEDPBeG5spuvJG1fZoHD8zHy3Sy4l0H0Lsoa9cUhVJxLbD-DB7njTC9fPdz0sQYsKfVP5QryX0ekRLDWCOnyqQutpna7wZY/s640/blogger-image-343013943.jpg"></a></div></div><div>on a walk at the cabin with my workout buddy, hunter</div><div><br></div><div>anyway, over the last five weeks i've lost nine pounds. i feel good about that progress and am excited to see my hard work paying off. i'm really trying to keep my calories in check and i'm doing strength training classes at the Y, the 30 day shred dvd, and lots of walking.</div><div><br></div><div>i have a long way to go... and the last couple days i have felt myself slipping and struggling a bit more. i need to reign it in and not lose momentum. i know this journey has it's ups and downs so i need to be able to bounce back when i hit an obstacle or challenge. i'm fortunate to have the support of joe and several friends, which makes all the difference.</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-18365447800141945192014-06-24T13:06:00.001-07:002014-07-01T13:22:29.184-07:00three months.umm, where does the time go? seriously. how do i have a three month old already? <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcl54l0iXaCS6o4BGlOQhQwVnol6ivQOKHii5z7yHE8ooKVa_NJgB7Q50TWoe8upbs8iM4-OtPAoNrBkHxfg-jRBXQBjkZq0k4s3rIc7v0D1vtKRg4vm8z4sdTBL6rx7wBwCKe_RhlXw/s640/blogger-image--1774622586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcl54l0iXaCS6o4BGlOQhQwVnol6ivQOKHii5z7yHE8ooKVa_NJgB7Q50TWoe8upbs8iM4-OtPAoNrBkHxfg-jRBXQBjkZq0k4s3rIc7v0D1vtKRg4vm8z4sdTBL6rx7wBwCKe_RhlXw/s640/blogger-image--1774622586.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>hunter is an absolute joy. he is so smiley, so laid back, so sweet and cuddly. he is pretty predictable. you know how some moms say they know what their baby needs based on their cries? i never had that with bennett. i didn't feel like i always knew what he wanted or needed and i often felt uncertain and unsure. with hunter it's the opposite. i truly feel like we are in-tune. i'm not sure if this is because hunter is different or if it's because i'm a more experienced mom at this point; but whatever it is, it feels good to feel confident more often than not that i know what i'm doing.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOSePKei_848n5ZkMHDRSOzFSXyIAIzMVhxzdFXJIjPBZyHv2j2Rb8WSdFHWryhlikSyw0hw8GeuRGDe5JX2LRKJnAubUr-2rwz7Rbs8-6__2RU0AYGMdxsqOmOuBbyZjkzvGbIwRfnY/s640/blogger-image--629681445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOSePKei_848n5ZkMHDRSOzFSXyIAIzMVhxzdFXJIjPBZyHv2j2Rb8WSdFHWryhlikSyw0hw8GeuRGDe5JX2LRKJnAubUr-2rwz7Rbs8-6__2RU0AYGMdxsqOmOuBbyZjkzvGbIwRfnY/s640/blogger-image--629681445.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>hunter is eating every two hours during the day, except for one longer stretch during afternoon nap. he eats about 2-3 oz per feeding (that's a guess based on the occasional bottle he gets- he mostly just nurses). he really only cries when he's hungry and otherwise is just cool as a cucumber. basically, he's baby joe. bennett and i are more feisty and tend to get fired up fairly easily whereas joe and hunter are not often rattled and tend to go with the flow.</div><div><br></div><div>hunter's sleep has continued to go well.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRg8VzBoPr3wPs7ZVBYIqyZRG8zsqQTmDWyaWEfABpVvA0ksgStzaZ4W3KA05kqcxyRvdSqHV_uMyRjj0V-ygfIFuo91ISeD9UQg8DR1DP0b56UXC_mmdribwpVmt8bUHjeUqhZUNqJ7w/s640/blogger-image-224384937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRg8VzBoPr3wPs7ZVBYIqyZRG8zsqQTmDWyaWEfABpVvA0ksgStzaZ4W3KA05kqcxyRvdSqHV_uMyRjj0V-ygfIFuo91ISeD9UQg8DR1DP0b56UXC_mmdribwpVmt8bUHjeUqhZUNqJ7w/s640/blogger-image-224384937.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>we have had a few random nights where he's been up a couple times but for the most part he sleeps from 10pm until sometime between 3:30-5:30ish, then goes back down after he eats for another three hours or so. he loves to be tightly swaddled and loves his paci :)</div><div><br></div><div>i've been a little concerned because hunter's head is pretty flat in the back.</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU_Nki8Hr4xlMfxPpXG5gGSNTnJ7xcN5L8tPX0E_jhiXKUAc7nx_39sKCrt0Q_YwZdyNXe9jJqmUPzbqgDBVsBygbPdsCgU_lcxOShrTgNwge1ufqsvL6lrC_D2ghFvfTHrG4j008K-A/s640/blogger-image--729816565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU_Nki8Hr4xlMfxPpXG5gGSNTnJ7xcN5L8tPX0E_jhiXKUAc7nx_39sKCrt0Q_YwZdyNXe9jJqmUPzbqgDBVsBygbPdsCgU_lcxOShrTgNwge1ufqsvL6lrC_D2ghFvfTHrG4j008K-A/s640/blogger-image--729816565.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">i've talked to a relative of one of my friends who is an occupational therapist and prescribes cranial caps (baby helmets). she said his flatness is mild and it is symmetrical so she thinks it can be pretty easily corrected with increased tummy time. it made me feel much better and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">we have been doing lots of tummy time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwM0itfIZ8gQmvAC8Js248MsnQRgsU8uULZVPWdIb7m3BAlhOaolLL93Z9_0aE62F4QkJxgXPH-S_TZDS4qeMGh8z_f5TcBLMGoZGpsxRsI3ezi2VB0VTq_SgeNiM7LIdDQx7Fu1xqeQY/s640/blogger-image-1440403931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwM0itfIZ8gQmvAC8Js248MsnQRgsU8uULZVPWdIb7m3BAlhOaolLL93Z9_0aE62F4QkJxgXPH-S_TZDS4qeMGh8z_f5TcBLMGoZGpsxRsI3ezi2VB0VTq_SgeNiM7LIdDQx7Fu1xqeQY/s640/blogger-image-1440403931.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3bAotK8dihXSscZn1iM2ZiVYpR9bvu0XlgMS4wJF1bUe9cUZ4uGM5SaSIXW5WTm8tlQNQJDmQ9z34nJDdYWbTqwaDZe1oaYGgPh_soY_rH6FnQsgo1P1za-e3Dx8JWSjm-ud_01RgP0/s640/blogger-image-1618867087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3bAotK8dihXSscZn1iM2ZiVYpR9bvu0XlgMS4wJF1bUe9cUZ4uGM5SaSIXW5WTm8tlQNQJDmQ9z34nJDdYWbTqwaDZe1oaYGgPh_soY_rH6FnQsgo1P1za-e3Dx8JWSjm-ud_01RgP0/s640/blogger-image-1618867087.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Qctzj8IFBhRGXxJhSYLNaQYzTnEvSAcBZ7LX4vpztQ8-tMLU_Ge640ugmJG4WbVJxM87qo7Cdn4uKrHT372ofGFB7hQ4y51_Vw3Bsi6ViWoft7a1Kwd_gk3aje8imiB5CeL9sA4Okdw/s640/blogger-image-1059096863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Qctzj8IFBhRGXxJhSYLNaQYzTnEvSAcBZ7LX4vpztQ8-tMLU_Ge640ugmJG4WbVJxM87qo7Cdn4uKrHT372ofGFB7hQ4y51_Vw3Bsi6ViWoft7a1Kwd_gk3aje8imiB5CeL9sA4Okdw/s640/blogger-image-1059096863.jpg"></a></div></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">he usually loves it and has rolled from his tummy to his back a bunch of times! he's just getting so big!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">hunter is just my little pumpkin and i love smooching his chubby cheeks and when he smiles and coos. oh, and he and joe are getting along much better these days! it's so sweet to watch them together! bennett is still semi-obsessed with hunter and now hunter is smiling back at him, which he loves. we are so blessed!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleHWothZIxBj9oglx3mKnJ2ZfRpwew4circC0j9ETngA6HEzFldYaWkzVAH4se2t-klv6qItQvwVtoAVWLWjLwPoSqehDNCF-RUWdTSGWjkHSK4cRd4K1lepTdekNVhGLWjEw6Mj7pG8/s640/blogger-image--1335985017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleHWothZIxBj9oglx3mKnJ2ZfRpwew4circC0j9ETngA6HEzFldYaWkzVAH4se2t-klv6qItQvwVtoAVWLWjLwPoSqehDNCF-RUWdTSGWjkHSK4cRd4K1lepTdekNVhGLWjEw6Mj7pG8/s640/blogger-image--1335985017.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPI0YoSVgA53fnx2JLoeFKl_IP8dka8U0EUMfLknQgzrHwPpTJkGqJ6J_3G3UoYODJi_i-lpgunfhRxRt7330bXKtpTpMtHN1R43855iOR_z3ou97vnjz9t4SfoJTHfRtZ9WgSip7ZyM/s640/blogger-image-1931966760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPI0YoSVgA53fnx2JLoeFKl_IP8dka8U0EUMfLknQgzrHwPpTJkGqJ6J_3G3UoYODJi_i-lpgunfhRxRt7330bXKtpTpMtHN1R43855iOR_z3ou97vnjz9t4SfoJTHfRtZ9WgSip7ZyM/s640/blogger-image-1931966760.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx59uG8mGTgMJGW9aQMcHA02Xzq6mU1hyXDZs2lzCFC9v0aNjEO2tWjIP_kGhIp-uUenXE_Hafp6HW4601UMm2c2haEc4wFJQ89Rk5Nt-GPKuVBwposPmBM0pxmzUK0VLkPmki5XYeE8/s640/blogger-image-1139731868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx59uG8mGTgMJGW9aQMcHA02Xzq6mU1hyXDZs2lzCFC9v0aNjEO2tWjIP_kGhIp-uUenXE_Hafp6HW4601UMm2c2haEc4wFJQ89Rk5Nt-GPKuVBwposPmBM0pxmzUK0VLkPmki5XYeE8/s640/blogger-image-1139731868.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-29952914879807561512014-06-21T14:05:00.001-07:002014-06-23T13:10:23.397-07:00"i bops"we are just a couple weeks from bennett's second birthday. i can hardly believe it (and not only because we have been battling the terrible twos for months already) and i would sincerely appreciate a life "pause" button right about now. he is totally a little boy now but thankfully i still get glimpses of my baby boy in there too. gosh i love that kid.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDjWNMDqyhpFrXoWVHw7eNzbA0wOLyD07ybm4onGwJQIC9Ko_FmsLgxhhnQYB78vr1wS27AI8Nv0I6Fpg1CWbeFEAv4YmdefNbcTZ9JEO04a1KDHBelpAdntAD0tzB29DZMugKwsZLUA/s640/blogger-image-395018218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDjWNMDqyhpFrXoWVHw7eNzbA0wOLyD07ybm4onGwJQIC9Ko_FmsLgxhhnQYB78vr1wS27AI8Nv0I6Fpg1CWbeFEAv4YmdefNbcTZ9JEO04a1KDHBelpAdntAD0tzB29DZMugKwsZLUA/s640/blogger-image-395018218.jpg"></a></div>(wearing mama's "guy-yes")</div><div><br></div><div>honestly as much as i hate how fast time goes, i really enjoy where we are at. every stage so far has had it's own set of challenges (some more than others) but has also been so much fun. my favorite part of almost-two is bennett's ever-increasing communication. he seriously makes me laugh every single day with something new he says. he calls himself "bops" and will tell anyone who asks, "i bops." just this weekend he started saying things are "so awesome." he tells joe he's "sinky" (stinky) and tells joe to "shhhh" when he sings. he says he needs a "mooch" (smooch) when he gets owies and then tells me he's "all bay-yer" (all better) after the kiss. he will say "mama" over and over again until i finally say "what, bennett?" then he says "umm... so..." and then comes up with something completely random like "big truck!" he just talks constantly, even when he has nothing to say. we are working on "excuse me" when adults are talking and it's so cute to hear him say "cue me, mama." love those little manners, especially when joe is holding him while he's crying and he sadly says, "mama peas." melts my heart. he's become quite the little mama's boy and i love it :)</div><div><br></div><div>bennett also has a crazy-good memory and loves to recount things he's done and seen. he likes talking about time spent at my mom and dad's house on the lake: "big deer" and "baby deer," "foh-wee-er" (four wheeler), ducks, boat, golf, "fwo wocks" with papa and "fwo tenn-as ball" to "pah-yo" (throw tennis ball to apollo, ryan and jeanie's dog).</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Bir9TWuKFBXb6QNgjQENNpHIbWqZSsK0FIsL_tcmTgj4PetC94NtfTCrY7nl8SGiUTET9qvWMSxJW-fM6RXj-Z6aLMzdLSGaekwHk_bz3Okml93UinpoO4OZ1NyvFy_anKf-z05Wwkk/s640/blogger-image-127366331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Bir9TWuKFBXb6QNgjQENNpHIbWqZSsK0FIsL_tcmTgj4PetC94NtfTCrY7nl8SGiUTET9qvWMSxJW-fM6RXj-Z6aLMzdLSGaekwHk_bz3Okml93UinpoO4OZ1NyvFy_anKf-z05Wwkk/s640/blogger-image-127366331.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>he also loves talking about his friends: beau, tripp, baby cash, baby jack, micah (kee-kah), emma, landon (nan-nan), baby gray, and more.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUo12MG2PblMTGo5EDza77MBSU9jhxFo03Uwv8cXOEJGioPXMGmSOW_SR2CPC4vY08p-1MCM6RF7ieDbzcmYokM4jJlBMTTbizW88n2ziW2oub_u9ep9gCcZEIuYLNIoLlqmp6x3nHjJs/s640/blogger-image-1082329345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUo12MG2PblMTGo5EDza77MBSU9jhxFo03Uwv8cXOEJGioPXMGmSOW_SR2CPC4vY08p-1MCM6RF7ieDbzcmYokM4jJlBMTTbizW88n2ziW2oub_u9ep9gCcZEIuYLNIoLlqmp6x3nHjJs/s640/blogger-image-1082329345.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd1BcxmSH47hPIuxDeLxHPvJlw3O6pNiD8WwFjl86k4Ik2iPeLcgUWJF2FbLRn-P2n-tUQpbuVOxgW-5JbKCdhNSpvInMtYejb-o6QRyInoWG6_QI12qoIVbT6AHyGqo1GMrAFgdzamc/s640/blogger-image--1748731701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd1BcxmSH47hPIuxDeLxHPvJlw3O6pNiD8WwFjl86k4Ik2iPeLcgUWJF2FbLRn-P2n-tUQpbuVOxgW-5JbKCdhNSpvInMtYejb-o6QRyInoWG6_QI12qoIVbT6AHyGqo1GMrAFgdzamc/s640/blogger-image--1748731701.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>he tells me at least once a day about watching dada and uncle jakey playing tennis at the park and seeing a turtle walking in the grass going to find his mama.</div><div><br></div><div>singing is something that has really taken off for bennett in the last month. listening to him sing "winkle winkle li-lla sharr" gets me every time. other favorite songs include the "toy-al" (turtle) song we learned at music class, the entire soundtrack from frozen, and wheels on the bus. he also loves to do the packer chant and yell "go pack go!" we can't wait to watch packer games with him this fall- he's going to love it.</div><div><br></div><div>i love that bennett is really able to communicate with us and love hearing what goes on in that little head of his. while "no" and "no don't" (no i don't) are becoming fast favorites of his, i can say that's the one serious downside to early toddler speech. but i'll take it if it means i get to hear "uhh you, mama" (love you, mama) every day.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXOK-qKtSkDX8AyA4wgDpS4Aj6nxmH_We0o-BisUXIQB6tLhDAYIpHP244-ikFKR5d09dZKIKGozGrFqGeaO3U4RjzGssy4HFwWjD9ixuiCnZbD-2-M4fwahfK4XTexH0SVsSg-szdT8/s640/blogger-image--2057689890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXOK-qKtSkDX8AyA4wgDpS4Aj6nxmH_We0o-BisUXIQB6tLhDAYIpHP244-ikFKR5d09dZKIKGozGrFqGeaO3U4RjzGssy4HFwWjD9ixuiCnZbD-2-M4fwahfK4XTexH0SVsSg-szdT8/s640/blogger-image--2057689890.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-66238191620605907882014-06-13T13:02:00.001-07:002014-06-13T13:28:19.054-07:00cheater.alright, i cheated. i weighed myself. i know what you're thinking... but really i just did it so i could know whether or not the calorie amount i'm shooting for each day is right or if i needed to make an adjustment. i haven't used myfitnesspal to lose weight while breastfeeding before and i kind of had to guess how many calories to add to my daily goal to account for it. most things i read said that you need 500 additional calories daily to accommodate for full-time breastfeeding. my calorie goal was set to lose one pound a week and to that i added an additional 300 calories for breastfeeding. i figured it might take a bit of work to find the number that would produce weight loss without hurting my milk supply.<div><br></div><div>all that to say i didn't want to wait until the end of the month to weigh myself and see that the calorie number needed to be adjusted. but it looks like we are in business: i lost two pounds since monday and haven't noticed a difference in my supply. i have been trying to make good food choices, exercising most days, and not eating back all my calories burned through exercise (though have dipped into them a bit for treats). i'm feeling good and like i'm on the right track. now i just have to keep it up :)</div><div><br></div><div>i'm enjoying getting back to the gym and taking classes. body pump is my favorite. i also really like getting out on walks with the boys in the stroller, especially with joe or other friends.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx36ylgOhC7jgU6ltpGxdsz0ANd130EGRWW0laU5PkAF56zc7HVbtK_v0CBNx_BIspmjG4VTcp8w8MBzD599OJ11qmUwAuoEK2K2IlQjwp2LhX-8idOoJIiu6HUH8fQkgTcZBW4l-Wa9E/s640/blogger-image--15673652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx36ylgOhC7jgU6ltpGxdsz0ANd130EGRWW0laU5PkAF56zc7HVbtK_v0CBNx_BIspmjG4VTcp8w8MBzD599OJ11qmUwAuoEK2K2IlQjwp2LhX-8idOoJIiu6HUH8fQkgTcZBW4l-Wa9E/s640/blogger-image--15673652.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>it's nice to actually enjoy being active rather than feeling like it's such a chore. i also have been eating treats but really watching my portions. i find that if i have a craving for something it's best to just eat a small portion of it and be done with it, rather than trying to eat something healthier instead. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">if i just fulfill the craving and don't deprive myself it keeps me on track whereas if i try to avoid it then i can't seem to control my portions when i finally give in. all things in moderation. that's truly the mentality i want to live by.</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-51025504353444539292014-06-09T07:05:00.001-07:002014-06-09T07:05:23.042-07:00effort and results.ok so weight loss just doesn't seem to be happening for me. i'm putting in a solid effort- tracking my calories in myfitnesspal, walking nearly every day, and even got in a couple classes at the gym this past week. but still, nada. it truly is hard to stay motivated when the number on the scale doesn't reflect the work i'm putting in. i was feeling really good about how the weekend went and was excited to see a lower number on the scale this morning. but i hopped on, saw the exact same weight as last week, and instantly felt defeated.<div><br></div><div>stupid scale.</div><div><br></div><div>i know that the number doesn't change the fact that i got some good exercise in this weekend and did a pretty good job of watching what i ate, but seeing that number stay the same manages to make me feel like i failed. i need to break up with the scale. maybe putting it out here will help keep me accountable. i'm going to keep tracking my food and exercise on myfitnesspal and i'm not going to weigh in again until the end of the month.</div><div><br></div><div>three weeks will hopefully reflect my effort overall rather than the daily fluctuations. if <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">the scale hasn't budged by then i will reevaluate my daily calorie goal and make adjustments. sometimes it's just trial and error to find the right balance: eat back calories burned through exercise or not? too many calories or not enough? </span></div><div><br></div><div>weight loss is tough. i get easily discouraged and have a hard time keeping my emotions out of it. I have to remember i just had a baby (it feels like a long time ago but it hasn't even been 3 months yet). it took ten months to put on the weight and it's not going to come off instantly. plus i'm breastfeeding. for some people that makes the weight just fall right off but apparently that's not how my body works. i can sulk and whine about it and stuff my face with baked goods, or i can keep at it. giving up isn't going to get me the results i want, so i'm just going to persevere. it has to pay off eventually, right?</div><div><br></div><div>thank goodness these faces are worth every extra pound.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuL5SASRWU9uo1AG0cStxIfzcMKaXYgx-qN8TA-hY_NoxU8BWOxSKXavAoxjo9f2gGQaCdx3VS_Mox08SXordQ1Nqx1BlhpD7isp0N_Sq2K7z4-NLYag3ZSZisDy17dVx2mcI25QZgSU/s640/blogger-image--278513174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuL5SASRWU9uo1AG0cStxIfzcMKaXYgx-qN8TA-hY_NoxU8BWOxSKXavAoxjo9f2gGQaCdx3VS_Mox08SXordQ1Nqx1BlhpD7isp0N_Sq2K7z4-NLYag3ZSZisDy17dVx2mcI25QZgSU/s640/blogger-image--278513174.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3NY1QvvJA2hP9T3tqFkhHN3q_pTbrapzi2N8MGVUlCDy0JD5MH0uGqyGcfeZxVxzDO6STjsllC6PEzzEbPopchHIUXNrC7PhUIJhemJZgJnl9vUpLfyYoNT0-IIDv9wHFPI1mjpOYCo/s640/blogger-image-1202571563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3NY1QvvJA2hP9T3tqFkhHN3q_pTbrapzi2N8MGVUlCDy0JD5MH0uGqyGcfeZxVxzDO6STjsllC6PEzzEbPopchHIUXNrC7PhUIJhemJZgJnl9vUpLfyYoNT0-IIDv9wHFPI1mjpOYCo/s640/blogger-image-1202571563.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPXnISLRVpi97TAbGw9hAc0j5Vi5BhNIF3ysUyK3AFdn4wUKDgFW59_TJ66X1UffXODkJRIRvy-IST1bll2SHTJdXoDE0soQMsJ7MetPW6SgUkO3g_40FNJYtJlFoyulFJ1AemJhF7T0/s640/blogger-image-1355751725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPXnISLRVpi97TAbGw9hAc0j5Vi5BhNIF3ysUyK3AFdn4wUKDgFW59_TJ66X1UffXODkJRIRvy-IST1bll2SHTJdXoDE0soQMsJ7MetPW6SgUkO3g_40FNJYtJlFoyulFJ1AemJhF7T0/s640/blogger-image-1355751725.jpg"></a></div></div>the donut probably doesn't help... ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfl-8BueuiRjkEHzvcicmFU6YusQBQb2dIYx7zbBmJRLXEr2HSutKxMlbMaXisIN735f9ogghlOBKW8QBzKC5wVh9VNz8jAo5QKLlrAoH3G7Fge_kMksJO8XeWIgGsyX2xusJaFewlkw/s640/blogger-image-2070544673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfl-8BueuiRjkEHzvcicmFU6YusQBQb2dIYx7zbBmJRLXEr2HSutKxMlbMaXisIN735f9ogghlOBKW8QBzKC5wVh9VNz8jAo5QKLlrAoH3G7Fge_kMksJO8XeWIgGsyX2xusJaFewlkw/s640/blogger-image-2070544673.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-3871628167785426502014-06-02T11:49:00.001-07:002014-06-02T12:12:22.128-07:00boat coat.ok, so i debated whether or not i would write a post about this, mainly because it is yet another example of my missteps as a parent. but hey, if nothing else this blog is intended to be a real documentation of our lives and i think it's important to include the good, the bad and the ugly. plus i think i lost all my pride as a mom when i locked bennett in the car. (remember that?) so anyway, here goes...<div><br></div><div>we spent memorial day weekend at the lake with my family. we drove up late friday afternoon, arriving in time to meet my dad for a late dinner. he took the pontoon to the restaurant and we just drove straight there when we got into town. it was already past when bennett normally eats dinner, so when we heard it would be over an hour before we would even get a table, we decided to call around to see if we could get a table somewhere else sooner. another restaurant could get us in right away, so we decided to head over there. joe drove the car, and my dad, me and the boys went on the boat.</div><div><br></div><div>we arrived at the restaurant's boat dock and i got bennett and myself off the boat onto the dock to help my dad get it tied up. as i was trying to hold the boat steady and keep bennett by me, bennett reached for the door of the boat, which then swung open, causing bennett to lose his balance and fall into the lake between the boat and the dock. he didn't have a life jacket on- it was back at the house, to which we hadn't yet been. obviously i panicked, dropping to my knees on the dock and reaching in the water to feel for him. my dad was yelling "where is he? where is he?" i couldn't see him, but thank God i felt his leg, grabbed hold of him and pulled him out. he coughed for a second and in a scared little voice said "mama!" and hugged me. i lost it at that point and was shaking and crying.<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">fortunately i think bennett was more scared by my reaction than by the actual fall in the lake. he kept saying "it ok, mama!"</span></div><div><br></div><div>i honestly wasn't really able to shake my anxiety the rest of the night. i kept having thoughts of what could've happened running through my mind. what if he had gotten stuck under the boat or the dock? what if he had hit his head when he fell in? what if i wouldn't have felt his leg when i reached in for him? my dad reminded me to try to think about what <i>did</i> happen, rather than what <i>might've</i> happened. he also said the water was only three feet deep there and he was about to jump in as i got bennett out. he said he was always going to be ok.</div><div><br></div><div>God was watching over us for sure and i'm so thankful for his protection. if nothing else, this experience can serve as an extremely scary reminder to us that we need to always, always have the boys in life jackets when we are on or near the water. it's easy to get too comfortable with the lake since we spend so much time there, but we need to be sure we don't let that happen. bennett was apparently completely unphased by the whole experience and had a blast on the boat the rest of the weekend. and he is well aware that we always wear our "boat coat," as he calls it.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqocgVRbcj6USAkcBUtu9EMlQSp5e_WzndX6Myb0sQc5F2GdRGXsThjiC0WLZHZtmFyGwADSVlrKIcwAVpppvU3YXboOfCSjunSy19cFXr8lNqssPkFFxMgo1puNb08gpXtfK1KMfXo0/s640/blogger-image-2013642065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFKqM42HsGgQQfYqFpjycO5lNnyC5vV0hX1w25xswB26kQs5usjg524CLhDJ1sBQ6f0tfNhgf2G_Xho02KVk3QzfBx49tBN3w1i93Y82vBR7nfGpNyism4PM0_FDDddrIfornH5yke5k/s640/blogger-image-2119306072.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3zSnU4D3LhMgV4WXH0X1ELMuFua4plnDtOw-PjdQIbjNPd2Vk75t_Po_tVs76vwnuZGW08r9HUu7kZNErVeMOn8nTB2vt8-6el3o_HjCIbSsw55kxe36Nys7mMxkC3jepKd_W2ATEC0/s640/blogger-image-1718634027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3zSnU4D3LhMgV4WXH0X1ELMuFua4plnDtOw-PjdQIbjNPd2Vk75t_Po_tVs76vwnuZGW08r9HUu7kZNErVeMOn8nTB2vt8-6el3o_HjCIbSsw55kxe36Nys7mMxkC3jepKd_W2ATEC0/s640/blogger-image-1718634027.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-3653026178780961092014-05-28T19:20:00.001-07:002014-05-28T19:20:11.624-07:00two months.hunter is two months old today. where has the time gone? our little buddy has changed a lot in the last month! he's getting bigger and starting to really engage with eye contact and more and more coy smiles and sweet coos.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZhhZNQvnPY6TMuiGy_iLV2TKj4mVclRJPZpXkU6W6AiyJrEcDnMEsqJ_6_mL1W_j0tvqIiyRQ-sPiAaKEtdepKOrOXV_lHeXcY15y35wEZQ653PpR4tm_IBWS0Jw1cQTuxG_yrRysUY/s640/blogger-image-1655160857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZhhZNQvnPY6TMuiGy_iLV2TKj4mVclRJPZpXkU6W6AiyJrEcDnMEsqJ_6_mL1W_j0tvqIiyRQ-sPiAaKEtdepKOrOXV_lHeXcY15y35wEZQ653PpR4tm_IBWS0Jw1cQTuxG_yrRysUY/s640/blogger-image-1655160857.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShqPxqKP2Mjmm5lRDa3_vm9JBqaxV5kS6DBSMtqx8mx4aBIe-tQUMQ8DNh5eCcENWCNIP0e3lpxyXYilgBUQ_MPnGu7HPt81aqTjGp9Tdajg6lUJY7LY02TC_RuZDSP5NaGI5-ddubn8/s640/blogger-image--323128685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShqPxqKP2Mjmm5lRDa3_vm9JBqaxV5kS6DBSMtqx8mx4aBIe-tQUMQ8DNh5eCcENWCNIP0e3lpxyXYilgBUQ_MPnGu7HPt81aqTjGp9Tdajg6lUJY7LY02TC_RuZDSP5NaGI5-ddubn8/s640/blogger-image--323128685.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>hunter had a few trips to the cabin this month and his first boat ride.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3bRDjH47B7SMG2N_Z_S7lPabr6sMwno2TelbR2lXNl-z92mPENzU9cXSqvoP7e4TcJFiKnZBVhTNL2Uv-5nRXtjZar3b3MyPQbYp46uguxOUNzY9oSXxv0CAUz-L5TSZ3UDAp8TIx34/s640/blogger-image-1642165855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3bRDjH47B7SMG2N_Z_S7lPabr6sMwno2TelbR2lXNl-z92mPENzU9cXSqvoP7e4TcJFiKnZBVhTNL2Uv-5nRXtjZar3b3MyPQbYp46uguxOUNzY9oSXxv0CAUz-L5TSZ3UDAp8TIx34/s640/blogger-image-1642165855.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCiYjVlo21kqupoiDCJ3cOcjQuH80t3sEHnkf92wlfM8Bym_7bO422sBv2o8QgAigX7jMuBQLMFAlEbuDw8A6kN9A0xo0rtrNsEnPK1eoUcc2KkaPx7cJYZUDEnwdRQTLHnW3DBqje1U/s640/blogger-image--344822460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCiYjVlo21kqupoiDCJ3cOcjQuH80t3sEHnkf92wlfM8Bym_7bO422sBv2o8QgAigX7jMuBQLMFAlEbuDw8A6kN9A0xo0rtrNsEnPK1eoUcc2KkaPx7cJYZUDEnwdRQTLHnW3DBqje1U/s640/blogger-image--344822460.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>hunter is definitely a mama's boy and still hasn't quite warmed up to joe. he calms down quick for mama and is happiest in my arms. i remind joe not to take it personally and that there are sure to be many years when he will only want to play and wrestle with dada so i'm enjoying my time while i have it :)</div><div><br></div><div>sleep has honestly been a DREAM. hunter, like bennett, has been in his crib since we brought him home. starting at about four and a half weeks he started sleeping through the night! we put him down between 10-11pm and sleeps until about 5am (or later), eats, then goes back down until about 7:30-8am (or later).</div><div><br></div><div>starting around six weeks we started puting him down at night drowsy but awake. we swaddle him, give him his paci and put him in the crib. we typically have to go back in his room once or twice to pop his paci back in and soothe him by patting his tummy or rubbing his head and "shushing." then he's down for the count. and so are joe and i.</div><div><br></div><div>hunter sleeps on and off throughout the day and i do one "intentional" nap in the afternoon. bennett goes down for a nap around 1pm. then i feed hunter, swaddle him and then put him on the boppy lounger (a MUST HAVE, by the way) by me, where he sleeps typically 1:30pm-4pm or so.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xl5zzr6KQDltq2J7KcVS-CZSWREQC18_jcSkipxRhUG2vCetCIGE_nU5Y8QacnJX1DJ9acZuldjgmMd08HWZJVlQcnmXMvrDr48r3854-UsxBMPhQkIfN3dXiigj1tzUzrnToEvNEa8/s640/blogger-image-524033460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xl5zzr6KQDltq2J7KcVS-CZSWREQC18_jcSkipxRhUG2vCetCIGE_nU5Y8QacnJX1DJ9acZuldjgmMd08HWZJVlQcnmXMvrDr48r3854-UsxBMPhQkIfN3dXiigj1tzUzrnToEvNEa8/s640/blogger-image-524033460.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>it is so nice to have the boys napping at about the same time during the afternoon. we probably need to move the nap from the boppy lounger to his crib sooner than later, but we will get to that.</div><div><br></div><div>hunter is eating about every two hours during the day, minus the one longer stretch during his afternoon nap. if we are out and about in the morning he tends to go a little longer because he is lulled to sleep in the car or stroller. otherwise he's like clockwork, wanting to eat at two hours on the dot after his last feeding. i don't mind a bit since he's sleeping so well at night!</div><div><br></div><div>bennett still loves and dotes on hunter and i just love seeing them together.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCVkhQ9bGp2VBoEOb03YbfzLfdvmZaziFpPZkweRVDuiEOyPP-BHIVt2uDVOZiblWfgwQIj1j-OmBMa0zNq4HMrvuEMYL8WfhWu2hqfanHsAQOXwWDg93wP3dYXm6bERfHcvREux9Q08/s640/blogger-image-749643005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCVkhQ9bGp2VBoEOb03YbfzLfdvmZaziFpPZkweRVDuiEOyPP-BHIVt2uDVOZiblWfgwQIj1j-OmBMa0zNq4HMrvuEMYL8WfhWu2hqfanHsAQOXwWDg93wP3dYXm6bERfHcvREux9Q08/s640/blogger-image-749643005.jpg"></a></div>high fives :)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0l2shNkv1Kihk1NqiQEYwCcIAQ5aNNRq5dtF8EKM_r_wAB8n83LlIkK9mUzcHwqK1rs42TwfEiBIYJg1NMW2lqrTDkXKd9pMLY9B26jAT2UEULgBFQz3tkZSYk9kC-3rBV_smvf7bh6c/s640/blogger-image--1577299086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0l2shNkv1Kihk1NqiQEYwCcIAQ5aNNRq5dtF8EKM_r_wAB8n83LlIkK9mUzcHwqK1rs42TwfEiBIYJg1NMW2lqrTDkXKd9pMLY9B26jAT2UEULgBFQz3tkZSYk9kC-3rBV_smvf7bh6c/s640/blogger-image--1577299086.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>life is so good as a family of four and hunter is the perfect addition to our lives! we love him so much!</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-24366498580429599032014-05-23T04:58:00.001-07:002014-05-23T06:07:54.357-07:00you're gonna miss this.i have this tendency to always be looking to the next thing, and it's never been more evident than in my parenting. thoughts of "i can't wait until..." seem to fill my mind. until... he sleeps though the night. he can communicate. he can put on his own shoes (like he so desperately wants to). he's potty trained.<div><br></div><div>all those stages and milestones are great, but i find that i'm too often wishing away the present. it's the same way with other parts of my life, where i think things will just be better when... i lose weight. we have a bigger house. i'm a stay-at-home mom. you know what, though? life always has challenges. each stage of parenting has it's ups and downs. and as much as i get frustrated and discouraged by the challenges of having a toddler and a newborn, i know that i will miss it someday. (well maybe not the middle-of-the-parking-lot i-won't-hold-your-hand-and-will-flop-around-like-a-fish-on-the-pavement-kicking-and-screaming stuff, but you get my point.)</div><div><br></div><div>i want to try to enjoy each day with my boys and focus on the positive moments (and there really are a lot!) rather than letting the meltdowns and battles ruin the joy of being a mom. i have to let go of letting my children's daily behaviors be the gauge of my success or failure as a parent. i have to let go of worrying about what other people are thinking when my child is crying and arching to avoid getting in the cart at target (which to bennett may as well be a torture chamber). they are loved like crazy and that's what matters most.</div><div><br></div><div>being a mom is the hardest, scariest, most frustrating, best, most joy-giving thing i have ever done. and i'm going to do my best to enjoy each day and not wish a bit of it away.</div><div><br></div><div><i>"you're gonna miss this. you're gonna want this back. you're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. these are some good times so take a good look around. you may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this."</i> -trace adkins, "you're gonna miss this"</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtiQXdyW-GDeyqZZzkG5Po6QUMJoZt1fHMndZfz0c28b0KzQA5QpVASHAGCqbza8cZjmdHzaDSR_oxBp4AXjqaFIpH29JatKj-TOVOVGXLN6NpRcm27QZYzdbp9JY7kOqu1FqKPE84GU/s640/blogger-image-1602464578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGf0BR8CauN-XdK0ZX8FgM-Bnkn_NGmiUbrKSqosA1hnzqhJOohIumFQ_ebrbCCmaseG3UNRc1OqAk6IWn6gkc34OJsfqCGS4TPQ_OD-QMen4HVc0pLMlaaP77-Q_aKK4o3t1jQhEwBCY/s640/blogger-image--672627419.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-1290061778241345012014-05-13T05:18:00.001-07:002014-05-13T05:30:09.720-07:00the terrible twos.the terrible twos are no joke. also it's more like the terrible <i>almost</i>-twos at our house. the last week or so has been a real challenge with bennett. he is starting to assert his independence more and more and it's causing <u>major</u> meltdowns when he simply can't do what he wants. the primary triggers are getting in the car seat and/or stroller and having to hold my hand while walking. he goes limp, drops to the ground, screams, hits, etc. it's extremely frustrating and he has been testing my patience every day. (by the way, i'm miserably failing that test.) i <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">feel like every fun outing turns into a battle and leaves both bennett and me in tears and exhausted.</span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">while i know that this is normal and age-appropriate, i definitely feel defeated and don't like that i have started to almost dread doing fun things with bennett because i'm anticipating the meltdowns. the sad part is that the fits are such a small fraction of the time but the intensity makes it feel like the whole day was a bust. that's where i need to work on maintaining perspective. it's not helpful or fair to throw the baby out with the bath water. i'm thinking joe and i would benefit from reading a book on parenting/discipline so that we have a framework that we can go off of when bennett acts up. for the most part we are on the same page and are consistent but any new suggestions on how to handle discipline couldn't hurt! any book suggestions? i have heard good things about <i>parenting with love and logic</i>...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">thank the Lord (seriously) that hunter is such an easy baby and sleeps like a champ. last night he slept 10 til 6:30! not bad for 6 weeks old, huh? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PC1LAiWTjmTviiKE2l1b10lolgxtjBQJXA9xsaray4qEKL4NbYcZGGgKpV8IPmRHVigoiZPH7Ae80gvYeDPSRiFNbkcvG6YUC7LU1cFWY9qQOXxn4pAoxB8EG5JxMK3sPo0GM2_tX6E/s640/blogger-image--858499208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PC1LAiWTjmTviiKE2l1b10lolgxtjBQJXA9xsaray4qEKL4NbYcZGGgKpV8IPmRHVigoiZPH7Ae80gvYeDPSRiFNbkcvG6YUC7LU1cFWY9qQOXxn4pAoxB8EG5JxMK3sPo0GM2_tX6E/s640/blogger-image--858499208.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0Vf_e4vDL_eXfvG-vEm9TMUrI71XRihsA1bXsOBAeP7NzN-r339zwR78dM_CpryVemL92p-xqz22ZK-mL7nvMTL71sqWlWjEytW_RBPCAP5tsDXylUgwRvnbx9flBOV4pqUhpYZhs6A/s640/blogger-image--447341580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0Vf_e4vDL_eXfvG-vEm9TMUrI71XRihsA1bXsOBAeP7NzN-r339zwR78dM_CpryVemL92p-xqz22ZK-mL7nvMTL71sqWlWjEytW_RBPCAP5tsDXylUgwRvnbx9flBOV4pqUhpYZhs6A/s640/blogger-image--447341580.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGgvjafZkF6JovYOpK17sG6MLMCfcxC0pI6jwYEVSoQmsO0adQoymE8w0x3gUgurJ1KPRopVpbBR4mLkek4tKpAztuWn-vafi1OHTmszgpmW8NdlARMf4YVk309UscO3TVcLHwxzWLog/s640/blogger-image--1591151127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGgvjafZkF6JovYOpK17sG6MLMCfcxC0pI6jwYEVSoQmsO0adQoymE8w0x3gUgurJ1KPRopVpbBR4mLkek4tKpAztuWn-vafi1OHTmszgpmW8NdlARMf4YVk309UscO3TVcLHwxzWLog/s640/blogger-image--1591151127.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">i truly think God knows i need to be rested to manage bennett without completely losing my mind.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">lucky for him he's so cute...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPxl_OZceDJa2wMB6xHTcJiGHbL9imFsypf_Iaa2_OTv2fQUpk68YJL-sP3oYF00oKIgPI25qxUJc81SNgrfFsIpNkfeKHMZ6gAWysxP5mtMT8IVupfkbadpjGyNwq4j6CRGfnLkrxhQ/s640/blogger-image--1130631322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYzpNsFkAS8vyoE96eXwkYT-fbGMBwzkz6d4bSohkfY3nyrafUqD2Juu9nJiQ6knOMnC9Ur_b4izmOiG-fxLc3uk-blzJtqoxBveZ3s4VX_zGMAdbea1UqJiFdnTNsHG9m3QNrBGtMcI/s640/blogger-image--1955358117.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtpG_NIryNuRij-QIKTWDNLJNDScP9BqU5V2BJQwaFBlCdHFKl7WXGgCLc3DIXt-KGmGWLfl-PQkdZeSwD_3Mgxzs0vz_oof86jV7vwUd9UjVkKGKBW1jvdkqESBSqFC8xgGaVdzY6xM/s640/blogger-image-92530821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtpG_NIryNuRij-QIKTWDNLJNDScP9BqU5V2BJQwaFBlCdHFKl7WXGgCLc3DIXt-KGmGWLfl-PQkdZeSwD_3Mgxzs0vz_oof86jV7vwUd9UjVkKGKBW1jvdkqESBSqFC8xgGaVdzY6xM/s640/blogger-image-92530821.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-6831676372244185952014-05-06T05:22:00.001-07:002014-05-06T05:30:50.826-07:00one month.this post is a little late, but with two kids it's not as easy to keep on top of the monthly updates! poor second children...<div><br></div><div>hunter is one month old (actually almost 6 weeks but whatever)! honestly he has been a piece of cake so far... knock on wood. i'm not sure if he's an easier baby than i remember bennett being or if i'm just more laid back this time around. probably a little of both. for the most part he only cries when he is hungry. he gets a little fussy in the evenings, but nothing a little swaddling and extra nursing can't handle.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglymdgQXm9ULwp9w4sjJaD_HS7P0masa2SaAqKzjBljj8P7YFu7ashYuvr7TjXNlGqz_0cJfNmm3y4_Er6fDD8PSrDVJLtMvFWifR6gKTnPJlzXdKT1XOGAkA03h_qdlsrKs2452rSQ58/s640/blogger-image-2122916477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglymdgQXm9ULwp9w4sjJaD_HS7P0masa2SaAqKzjBljj8P7YFu7ashYuvr7TjXNlGqz_0cJfNmm3y4_Er6fDD8PSrDVJLtMvFWifR6gKTnPJlzXdKT1XOGAkA03h_qdlsrKs2452rSQ58/s640/blogger-image-2122916477.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>hunter is growing like a weed and is much chubbier (and we both think maybe a little cuter- but probably shouldn't say that) than bennett was at his age. in fact, we affectionately call him "chub chub." that probably can't continue too long or he may have issues!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWd44Jam46cFlOUSHRQF94Y1J5nHyDNxwKvVWD_GdKBlxM6fSkJv7ibd4RTKGQtpCtZRBLJT6IPeK4oBuMxM6rB1acCf-Om4FEJXzVhRISCTXrIgfHwvSZd2ksJBhaDSKWKhQcy18um0/s640/blogger-image-1199285475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWd44Jam46cFlOUSHRQF94Y1J5nHyDNxwKvVWD_GdKBlxM6fSkJv7ibd4RTKGQtpCtZRBLJT6IPeK4oBuMxM6rB1acCf-Om4FEJXzVhRISCTXrIgfHwvSZd2ksJBhaDSKWKhQcy18um0/s640/blogger-image-1199285475.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>nursing has been a breeze now that he has gotten more efficient. at first it was taking him an hour or longer each feeding, but now it's about 15 minutes. he's taken bottles pretty easily too, which has helped me have a much needed break. hunter isn't as easy for joe to soothe yet so i know those couple times he's flown solo with the boys so far haven't been super easy for him. thankfully he is patient and more than encouraging of me getting out for breaks. we remember him struggling through his first solo nights with bennett too, but both think hunter is a little more of a mama's boy. can't say i mind ;)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSTzKlo_KnV-w0o5eJjVhkgdoM0PeFFVBDdvGTxK_Do9V_dsMTVQtRMxEuro0m7_WddVWTRdicxoxDBsbF20-SQkLwArhQcn8dVdBFwn4mT8nahIx5l_ZCEjCHwVrB4w1pWc1l1j_Zts/s640/blogger-image-1312837897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSTzKlo_KnV-w0o5eJjVhkgdoM0PeFFVBDdvGTxK_Do9V_dsMTVQtRMxEuro0m7_WddVWTRdicxoxDBsbF20-SQkLwArhQcn8dVdBFwn4mT8nahIx5l_ZCEjCHwVrB4w1pWc1l1j_Zts/s640/blogger-image-1312837897.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyJpHb9L76v-Jgv5xyaaYwuGsoc2KoLjWML088jl0YRABIbrDsfVOh4RvrHKEpKRu4tCkKsqYNSzNLQQCru-O2fRBc7UA4kXnMWq8Pu7WPrUWVpr1NwqQ1W1NOq3FpPYCCRs5wDe0Pqs/s640/blogger-image-1541165743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyJpHb9L76v-Jgv5xyaaYwuGsoc2KoLjWML088jl0YRABIbrDsfVOh4RvrHKEpKRu4tCkKsqYNSzNLQQCru-O2fRBc7UA4kXnMWq8Pu7WPrUWVpr1NwqQ1W1NOq3FpPYCCRs5wDe0Pqs/s640/blogger-image-1541165743.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>sleep is going <i>sooo </i>well (again, knock on wood). hunter has started consistently sleeping for a 5 hour or longer stretch at night, usually about 10:30-4:30ish. two nights ago it was 11-6! heaven. then he goes down again after eating for about 2 more hours or so. as with bennett, hunter has been in his crib at night since we brought him home and he's done great. i'm all about skipping unnecessary transitions! we do swaddle him at night but then in the morning he seems to like sleeping on my bed unswaddled for a while while i drink coffee and watch good morning america :)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielLWjOMiYWfou9gEPq515Fu_rriAA9zywLojwAKQEaF5jm5alh_aMrQ7lEAlZAfwN5odTTVuZPD5d3alZA-zsLTx0pVCI6-tmNpuT2Dbg11pLZwXQEoY_OC_VsrC4G9MSMhKune7dlAM/s640/blogger-image-7205769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielLWjOMiYWfou9gEPq515Fu_rriAA9zywLojwAKQEaF5jm5alh_aMrQ7lEAlZAfwN5odTTVuZPD5d3alZA-zsLTx0pVCI6-tmNpuT2Dbg11pLZwXQEoY_OC_VsrC4G9MSMhKune7dlAM/s640/blogger-image-7205769.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>he seems to like his paci, too :) at first i hesitated to give him one too much because i didn't want him to have the same dependence on it that bennett did. then i realized it's a good tool to help him self-soothe and that in the grand scheme, breaking the paci habit wasn't all that bad with bennett so we can do it again. the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in my opinion!</div><div><br></div><div>we are so thankful for hunter and what he adds to out little family!</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08771930676394631351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350792745281580452.post-78174819583939401582014-04-29T13:12:00.001-07:002014-04-29T14:16:08.563-07:00losing the baby weight: round two.i know it's probably too early to be thinking much about this, but let's face it: i am anyway. i'm talking about losing the baby weight. i wasn't exactly as successful in limiting the weight gain as i set out to be with this pregnancy and instead gained about 40 pounds. yikes. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrCupPYE2oriM9xXJX4P6ArT4V6DFBTze5MpZkxL9Q-7H6-xapqzOolEGjDCCqc8hZ3p6EAGIWleQZ2n8I57r8NDTXQzNww3yadStMGgu-IShkMMiGOAS2AxvYkShhxVe25HTaKCPXk8/s640/blogger-image-731261538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrCupPYE2oriM9xXJX4P6ArT4V6DFBTze5MpZkxL9Q-7H6-xapqzOolEGjDCCqc8hZ3p6EAGIWleQZ2n8I57r8NDTXQzNww3yadStMGgu-IShkMMiGOAS2AxvYkShhxVe25HTaKCPXk8/s640/blogger-image-731261538.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>although thats about what i gained with bennett too, so it shouldn't really be shocking. and this time around i started at about ten pounds less than i weighed when i <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">got pregnant with bennett.</span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">i either am remembering incorrectly or the weight isn't falling off right away like i think it did after i had bennett. i had bennett in july and was really swollen from the heat, so i'm sure it was water weight that came off fairly effortlessly. but still, i remember watching the number on the scale drop rapidly over the first couple weeks after having bennett without any work on my part. unfortunately i'm not having the same experience this time around.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">i'm just now starting to make changes to my diet because i really don't like the number i'm seeing on the scale and it's not moving on its own. so, i'm going to do something about it. i know i only had a baby a month ago and need to give it time, but the dairy queen stops and takeout that became routine toward the end of my pregnancy are not helping and i need to get back to some healthier habits.</font></div></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">trying on clothes is extremely depressing- my maternity clothes don't fit right but my regular clothes don't fit yet either. this awkward in-between stage is tough. i bought a few new things to help get me through for now- the last thing i need is to have nothing to wear and feel even worse.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">i'm not making much of an effort to work out just yet. i wanted to give myself six weeks to heal and settle into life with two kids before i really make exercise a priority. plus i can take both boys to the Y once hunter is six weeks old. i've done a few walks outside on the three nice days we have had since hunter was born (i swear that's not a joke). i think just starting with diet will help- exercise will come in time.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">thank goodness kids are so fun and make life way better because the weight gain, stretch marks, etc. are not too fun. it is a small price to pay, though!</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8Wlr-BvyCoJIZwLKPDuk8vtzOCBEp3Tqt4FHnBYh65ugvjCEhvIxyJIZ3_jRXFTbucQ8zHLhNuRWbPtIibpX_VEiamnQG1mg3lIZjWfCgqx3v654_1lzBYF_J-Yl1MAqxbsuOOWZDIw/s640/blogger-image-222078710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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