Frantic Friday

As the week comes to a close and the weekend is about to start, I like to stop for a moment to appreciate the small things. We tend to overlook the small daily happenings and focus on the larger ones. We focus on the bills that need to be paid (rightfully so!), dinner that needs to be made, cat-hair tumbleweeds that need to be vacuumed. But it's the small things that really make our life enjoyable. 

Today it is my Bubs little face. Yes, he's cute all the time, but when he is sleeping he exudes innocence. Most of the time when he sleeps I rush off to do household chores. Well, not right now. I'm soaking in this moment, knowing it will vanish all too quickly. 

Take a moment to relish in the moments we so often take for granted or overlook.

Happy Friday!

Simply Anchored

Check out my new blog on how to keep life simple

http://simplyanchored.blogspot.com/

It was no Kumbaya!

I have never been much of an exerciser, ever. I find it boring and I never got any results. Perhaps, it's because I never stuck with it for more than two days, and I'd rather go out with my mom for a glass of wine than hit the gym. Once I got pregnant, I figured I had the green light to eat whatever I wanted, when I wanted. Surprisingly, I didn't gain too much weight! I was feeling pretty good, and I was all belly.

33wks in Cozumel - pretty much all belly!

I admit I was indulging way too much. I was eating cake everyday, fast food, ice cream, pizza, pasta, and everything else that was high in fat and yumminess! My husband LOVED every second of it. It meant he could eat it guilt-free as well (even though he never had guilt over what he eats).

After my delivery I instantly lost 21 lbs. it was great! I thought well I'm heading in the right direction. I had some issues breastfeeding, so I indulged in comfort food (see above list) to make me feel better. And boy did it make me feel good! I had another excuse right? I was breast feeding! Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE said the weight would melt right off. LIES, ALL LIES! The scale hasn't budged since a week after delivery. 

I have tried cutting back on comfort food, Weight Watchers, drinking more water, and everything but exercise. I wasn't too worried about it. It's not like I'm going to wear a bathing suit anytime soon with my massive claw, I mean stretch, marks all over my stomach (that I got within the last month of pregnancy). Oh, and I can find every excuse in the book not to exercise: my knee is bad, I'm too tired, I don't want to disrupt Bub's sleep, it looks like it could rain in the next 8 hours, it's too sunny, it's too hot/cold. And the list goes on, you get the point.

Speaking of points, let me get to the point of this blog. Okay, my weight wasn't coming off and my belly is jelly-like and gross. So I had a friend tell me about this "8 Week Challenge" she just completed. It sounded good. In 8 weeks you exercise and learn to eat right. There are points and such and a prize at the end, kind of like The Biggest Loser. So, I decided to join last night. 

Well let me tell you, it is rather misleading. It stated on the Facebook page that it would be the assessment and information session. So I was thinking okay I'll get measured, weighed then we will sit in a circle and get info about the program. WRONG! I get there, wearing my yoga pants....the one's I wore as maternity pants since nothing else fits, and my Dansko's. Clearly not dressed for the gym, but come on we are just filling out paperwork and singing Kumbaya. The first thing the instructor does was hand me a form to fill out then tells me to go run a mile on the treadmill. Wait what?! A mile, now!? Looking down at my feet I realize these Dansko's won't make it ten feet. Thankfully my friend saw the shocked look on my face and offered me her shoes for the run (thank you Danielle!).

As I hop on the treadmill, I'm frantically asking myself why I thought this "challenge" was a good idea. Either way, I couldn't back out now, so I hit the Start button on this torture machine. After 14:22 of sweat and throbbing knees, I finished my mile. I felt so accomplished, I hadn't run a mile since high school! If I can do that, I can do anything... or so I thought. Next, I was weighed and measured. I knew my weight so it wasn't a surprise, but it's always different when someone is looking down at the scale with you. Then, I was sent to do 2 minutes of Jumping Jacks, seriously how hard could that be? It was worse than the mile! Holy crap, I just about died! Then, off to "hover", which is a modified plank. I lasted 22 seconds. Lastly, I did 12 push-ups. Which I'm proud of because I had never done more than 3 before. I think it was the fact that they placed a dumbbell under my boobs and told me to go down until I hit them. Now, I hadn't nursed in over 3 hours, so I was in a little bit of pain and I knew if I dropped on those dumbbell it was all over. So I HAD to push myself back up!

Finally, it was time for the "sit and chat". Which was great, I learned a lot and realized I can do this! It's intense, but if I can run a mile, do 12 pushups, and "hover" all in a moment's notice in someone else's shoes, I can do anything! Remember, I'm SuperMom. 

Now reading over the Facebook post about the "info night" it was rather clear that we were going to be physically assessed....hmm maybe that's why everyone else, but me, showed up in gym attire. 

Weekend Wedding Adventures....with an infant!

Okay me start out by saying, the wedding was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever attended! I was so fortunate to be able to be apart of such a special day for my dearest friends.

That being said, it was crazy! Let's start from the morning of the rehearsal dinner. So, as you had read previously, my Bub had his 2 month shots the day before. Well, the next day (rehearsal dinner day) he woke up with a fever. Yup, I took my first rectal temperature, that was an adventure of it's own! That being said, it took my husband and I 6 hours to pack for one over-night! That is just absurd! I felt like I was walking through mud the entire day, I just couldn't get out of my own way. For example, I fell down the stairs. Oh I didn't just trip a little. I slipped, buckled my leg under me and slid down the entire flight! After I caught my breath, all I thought was I better not have a massive bruise for this wedding! Thankfully the only thing that was bruised was my pride.

Now fast-forwarding to the hotel and rehearsal dinner. Once we arrived at the Inn, we went to check in to our room. Well funny thing, when my husband opened the door with baby and wife in tow, he slowly started backing back into the hallway. Next thing I know an older gentlemen was at to the door, pants unzipped, and dress pants in hand. Clearly the room was not vacant and they double booked the room! Well that was rather awkward, so back down to the lobby we went to get a new, empty room. The Inn was really gracious about it and even upgraded up to an ocean view! Too bad the fog was as thick as pea soup.

After unpacking and quickly changing, we rushed down to the rehearsal. Well, we were a little late and actually missed it! So we rushed right to dinner. Here is where the baby adventure began. He started to fuss so my husband took him (he was in the car seat clicked into the stroller) for a walk. As he did that I hit the open bar. Ha! After two glasses of wine I realized that my two men were not back yet. Dinner was about to be served and I didn't want them to miss it. I quickly went out and checked the lobby and hallways. I didn't find them. I ran, literally, to the room (since I wasn't smart enough to just call the room from the front desk), didn't find them there either. As I was about to give up, I found them ambling around the lobby. As I was explaining that dinner was about to be served, I heard a lot of laughter out of the dining room. CRAP! We've missed the toast by the grooms father! I quickly go to the door to realize it was locked. As I'm pulling on it like a fool, the bartender, Steve, walked me around the other door. I snuck in then opened the locked door so my Hub and Bub could make a quiet entrance. Well it didn't stay quiet for long. Bub was in the room all of about ten seconds when he started to squirm then cry....right at the end of the toast! Mortified, my husband said he would go for another walk. I figured he had learned his lesson and would stick around the lobby until I came and got him. NOPE! He vanished. After the speech I went on the search again. Now he can't go far since the sky had opened up and was raining sideways outside, but some how he disappeared! This time I got a little smarter. I asked bartender Steve if he had seen him. He said no but would keep and eye out. Then I ran to the room, again, no one there. Oh he also had the room key and my cell phone on him, so I couldn't get in the room (so I just knocked) or call his cell. At this point I gave up. My lobster was getting cold. I headed back and stopped off at the bar for an update and to get another drink. My hub can make his way back when he's ready, I was eating!

Well Apparently I was wrong. He wasn't going to make his way back. He never returned. Bartender Steve even sent out the wedding planner to find him, to no avail. I couldn't keep searching for him, so I finished my dinner, thinking about saving him some but realized I was famished, had another drink and chatted with the bride and groom. Once dinner was cleared I decided to go back to the room to change into some flip-flops, stopping by the front desk to get a spare key on the way.

When I reached the room, I found Hub and Bub casually laying on the bed watching tv! Seriously?! Giving him a chance to explain, I found out that Bub broke out into hysterics in the lobby and needed to go back to the room. He then loaded his diaper and was hungry. I listened intently then told them they needed to get up and head back downstairs. Dinner was over  and people were socializing so it didn't matter if Bub was fussy. So we dressed him in his lobster onesie and headed down. Stopping at the bar, again, to tell Steve I had found them and grab another drink.

Alright, this is getting really long winded and needs to wrap up! So that night since he still had a fever and he slept with me. Oh how I loved my snuggles all night! Then the next day, I got ready with the bridal party and Hub & Bub stayed in the room relaxing, ordering room service, and snuggling. I was jealous of the snuggle time they were getting. Once 3pm hit, my mother showed up and took over baby-watching and my Hub got ready for the wedding. Boy, didn't he look swell! The night ended around 10pm and my Bub had slept the entire time. Then we headed back to the room, packed up, got in my Jeep and went home. We would have stayed another night but my husband, being a lobsterman, had to be home to fish the next morning.

There were a lot more details, but I won't bore you. I will end by saying, traveling with a child isn't that hard. I just would not recommend doing it right after they get their shots. But this means that any travel in the future will be a piece of cake!

Hub & Bub ordering room service!

Shotty Behavior

      For any mother out there you know the 2 month wellness/check-up appointment is horrid, and for any soon to be mother or human being at all, stay tuned and you'll see why! Let me start of by saying that my Bub is generally a very happy baby. He only cries when he's overly tired, hungry, or has a crappy diaper (which is more often than not the case). That being said, I have heard horror stories of the 2 month check-up. They get stripped down to their diaper, weighed, poked and prodded, and then the dreaded vaccinations. Okay, let's stop right here for a moment. Some of you may be against vaccinations. Well I am not, and I am not lending this space for debates about either side. Okay, let's move on :) So yes, he had to get one oral medication and 3, yes 3 shots! My heart broke just thinking of it.
      So today I knew I needed reinforcement for this appointment. Since my husband was lobstering, I called my mother (Grandma) and she jumped at the chance to come. We leave for the appointment early since I needed to finalize some gifts for my dear friends wedding I am in this weekend (I'll blog about that adventure this weekend....can't wait!!). On the way to the store I swear Bub knew this was no ordinary errand day, something was up. His whines turned into cries, so I dropped my mother off to do my dirty work at the store, then he started to scream. So what can a mother do but circle the strip-mall 47 times trying to lull him back to sleep. I swear people outside thought I was casing the joint since I made so many passes in my black Jeep with my black sunglasses and serious face on.
      Once the goods were purchased, Grandma hopped back into the Jeep and off we went. Unfortunately, the doctors office was a mere 500ft down the road. As we reach the medical office driveway I fly right by thinking he will fall fast asleep if I drive for a few more minutes at a faster speed. Yeah, in my dreams! So, we make it to the doctors and surprisingly he is calm. Why is he always calm when we reach our destination?  Oh, because he is amazing! We all know the drill from here; check-in at the front desk, wait, get called in. Thankfully there was no wait. The anticipation was killing me! So we go in.
      Now for those of you who don't know, when you go in for your Bub's appointment they make you get them down to their diapers, measure them, take them down the hall to weigh them, then they have to wait, undressed mind you, for the doctor. Well everything was like clockwork today. Got measured (25'' - 96%) and got weighed (12lbs11oz - 68%). Yup PERFECT! Then the doctor came right in. Oh, and if you find a doctor you truly love, hold on to them! I have a pediatrician that is amazing *sigh*.
      Ok so fast forward to the end. The nurse comes in (the Doc doesn't do the shots) with a tray, yes a tray of syringes! I just about died. Okay breath. So I laid my Bub down, now dressed in the cute little blue crab romper (shown down in another thread), and held the top half of his body. The first vaccination was oral. He did okay. But if looks could kill, Bub would have killed that nurse seven times over! Then came the shots in his chubby little thighs. So this was how she prepared me, "you will hear a scream from him you've never heard before" oh comforting lady! She picked up the syringe and I tensed looking at him. As she inserted it in, his eyes grew and he looked at me as if I had betrayed him then broke out into hysterics. I died right there, but then she did it two more times! When she was done I snatched him up so fast and smothered him (not literally, that would not be safe) on my chest. He calmed down and I gave him as much momma milk as he could handle. During this time I had tears streaming down my face, gasping for air. Then I look over at Grandma and she is the mirror image of me. Again, I died.
       Funny thing is, Bub was okay two minutes after, but I was a wreck. I felt as if I had sent him off to get tortured! So let's, again, fast forward to now. He has now had his dose of Children's Tylenol - which let me say was worse than giving him the shots! - and he is curled up on Daddy's chest sleeping it off.
       So for the sake of ending this story that has scarred me for life, everyone was right; it's worse on the mother than child. But no worries, I get to do it all over again in August!

I couldn't bare post a crying picture, so this is him sleeping after

Click, Click, Boom!

Who would have thought little clicking sounds would have such an impact on our everyday life? Well I heard that little clicking sound last night in relation to my trusty MacBook Pro. As I was on the couch blogging, with my Bub on my husbands chest  (not on mine, can you believe it!?) my beautiful pink incased, Internet surfing, typing device started to click. At first I though "hmm the must be an add running in the background," only to inspect it further and literally press my ear to the computer. The sound I was hearing was clicks, scratches, and everything a computer should NOT sound like. Panic started to rushed through my post-pregnant jellylike body. I quickly did what I probably should not have done. I hit the power button. No, I didn't shut it off correctly through the start menu blah, blah, blah. I went straight for the round little button and pressed it hard (I get that from my mom...the button smasher)! PHEW! The clicking stopped, I was in the clear. Everything in the world was right. My husband was sitting there all comfy with my Bub snoring on his chest, cracking a smile every now and then and my computer was fixed.

Okay back to blogging I thought. I turned it back on and all I got was a bright white light. Usually bright white lights mean that you're heading towards death right? Well, its true! The clicking was back and the computer was facing imminent death. I smashed the power button again and again and pushed the computer away from me. I mean seriously who knows what the clicking was. Perhaps I got a virus that turned my computer into a bomb that would self-destruct. So, that probably wouldn't happen, but I wasn't taking chances. Good thing I have an iPhone and iPad! I looked up the clicking noise online to find out that it was a hard drive failure. FAILURE?! Oh yes, say good-bye to the over 10,000 pictures I have on my computer. And I know what you're thinking, "she should have backed everything up." How many times have I heard that in the past 24 hours? But come on ain't nobody got time for that!

Okay to make a long story short, the next day I packed my Bub and mother up in my Jeep and drove 30 mintues to the Apple store just to be told I have to have an appointment. An appointment, really Apple? So we left and went to Best Buy where I was told the same thing but then they magically had someone available. He was great! Telling me what I needed to do and gave me options of them doing it for me or telling me I could possibly do it. So I decided to not have them fix it, since I am SuperMom, and I was to replace my own hard drive! Oh yea...and I'm cheap and there was no way I was to spend over $300 to have them replace my hard drive and install the operating system.

Well ladies and gents I did! I know what you're thinking pictures or it didn't happen. Well guess what all you non-believers....I have pictures!

Oh and I must say that as I was going through the mall from computer store to computer store, toting my clicking MacBook in my Coach diaper bag, my Bub was sleeping like a champ. Grandma was almost skipping with glee while pushing her little GrandBub reciting over and over "You're with your Grandma...Grandma's pushing you....Grandma loves you!" It was rather cute.

So note to those who hear clicking.... it is not a bomb, it's just you computer trying to erase every memory you have and cause you to have a minor heart attack. But the good thing is, now I get to pay BIG BUCKS to have all my crap recovered off my clicking hard drive.

My poor MacBook Pro

Let there be life!

Taking a lunch break, after the computer fiasco, at Panera Bread

Just so cute!

Another hurdle jumped!

Last night was the first night that Bub has slept through the night! Okay for those with wizard babies who slept through the night the first night home, this might not be a big deal. But to any normal mom, this is monumental! Okay so from day one to week three he has slept with me in bed. Then we transitioned to the Rock N' Play then ...don don don...THE CRIB!  That was feat number one. He did well as long we as have the mattress propped up with a beach towel under it. Yea, he got spoiled with the incline of the Rock N' Play and will not longer sleep flat on his back.

Okay I digress about the sleeping arrangements. Back to sleeping through the night! So he was like clockwork with his night feedings: up at 10pm, 130am, and 530am. Well ladies and gents, last night he ate at 10pm and didn't wake until 430am!

Well here is the kicker....my husband and I, who are now trained to get up at certain times, woke up in a panic at 2am thinking we had slept through his cries and didn't feed him. Only to look at the monitor and find him out like a light!

So, once the panic subsided, we quickly went back to sleep. Come 4am my little Bub gently woke up, and my hubby and I discussed who would feed him. Since he usually does the 130am and I do the 530am we were confused as to who's feeding it was. Yes first-world problems I know. But I made the executive decision and said it was his turn since I had to be hooked up to the boob machine.

So after the feeding and pumping we put him back to sleep and did not hear a peep out of him until 830 this morning!

Ahh its the small things in life. I am so well rested and full of energy, but all he wants to do is sleep on me. So sitting is what I will do.