My day is about to get a little bit longer

In January, I did a post about our new gym. (It's quite entertaining actually, I enjoyed re-reading it. I make myself laugh sometimes.)

I have not been back to our "new" gym since last January either.

That is all about to change!

I am turning over a new leaf. (And, I am inspired by Sean).

I am going to drag my bottom out of bed EARLY in the morning and try out a class at the "new" gym.

I might end up in the hospital. I'm not kidding either.

It's time for this flab to turn fab. (wow...creative.)

UPDATE...So, I did get up and head for the gym EARLY this morning. My goal was to make it to the 5:15 class. I entered the building at 5:12...3 minutes to spare. The class has already started. And since I am new to the whole "class thing", I did not want to embarrass myself by bumping into people and knocking them over in my quest to go to the back of the room. I did spend 45 minutes on the treadmill. I'll be there by 5:05 next time...ugh!

My little Indian...

...is about to be two.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: spaghetti, green beans

Tuesday: Mexican chicken soup, corn bread

Wednesday: leftovers

Thursday: Elyn's BIRTHDAY and PARTY

Friday: to a wedding!

My time with a "celebrity"

Remember, Sean was going to be our worship leader at church today? Remember?

And remember that I LOVE Biggest Loser?

Well, I was down right giddy to see Sean this morning. My friends thought I was crazy.
I saw him, freaked out a little and then went up to get my picture taken with him.Turned out good, don't you think?

Right after my friend, Lane, took this picture, Sean looked at me and said, "Now, you can't post that anywhere until the finale."

Great.

I know, technically, I am not following directions...TECHNICALLY.

But, you really can't even see anything. Other than I'm in purple and he's in black.

Let me tell you, he looks GREAT!!!!!! He said he works out enormous amounts during the day. He gave me a rough estimate of how much he has lost so far. I weigh less than the amount!

I was so thrilled to meet him and talk with him. He is such a nice guy. His wife and kids were there too. His wife is about to have their baby girl (if you watched episode two, you know she's having a girl) and his son looks EXACTLY like him.

The finale is December 8th...don't forget to watch! GO SEAN!

So...

Thank you all so much for your feedback on the "friend" issue with Nora. After typing it out I felt much better...funny how that works, huh.

I talked to her teachers yesterday about the problem. They promised to keep an eye on her but assured me that they had not noticed anything weird.


When I went to pick her up they told me that maybe the reason she couldn't remember any of the names of the kids she plays with is because she played with EVERYONE. My little social butterfly.

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Matthew's birthday is in two weeks. I asked him what he wants. He wants "golf". Um, okay. And he wants to go to a Razorback game. I really want to deliver both of these. I can handle the golf. I need football tickets though. SOOOO, if you have some you would like to sell, let me know.

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Speaking of football, Matthew and Nora are at a high school football game right now. We were all going to go but Elyn is sick. She has had a fever, low-grade, all day long so I didn't want to take her out. That, and I wasn't really looking forward to her whining all night long, hanging on to my leg. Bless her heart.

She turns two next week and I am a little sad about that. I can't believe that she is turning two. She was just born, right? I just met her.

Anyway, we are out of town next weekend, busy the one following that, so I wasn't going to throw her a birthday party. I thought, she's two, will she really notice? We'll have a little family shindig and that will be good.

Then, "MOTHER GUILT" reared her head and...you guessed it...I am throwing a party. On her birthday. The two year old birthday party I am having for a BABY GIRL who is IMPOSSIBLY two.

Impossible.

At least now, when the girls are 15 and 16 1/2 and comparing baby books, they will both have pictures of their 2-yr-old birthday parties.

Sadly, only Nora will actually have writing in hers.

The mom lost a lot of weight after he was born!

Yes, this is a NEWBORN.
I'm sure by now you have heard that a baby was born recently that weighed over 19 pounds.

Wow.

I cannot even imagine.

Why is Matthew sad in this picture?
Because he is taking apart the crib.

For nearly four years we have had our crib set up. Nora slept in it until she was 20 months old and Elyn slept in it for nearly 24 months.

Now that Elyn has had a few solid nights/naps in her toddler bed, we know longer need the crib.

And I am a little sad.

I know that the crib will be used again one day (I pray that anyway). But I also know that it might be a year or more before that happens.

It's silly for us just to keep it in the room for sentimental purposes.

Sigh. I think I might need a weekend of spa services to rejuvenate myself when we take it down for good in a few years.

Watching them grow up is hard to do!

I like to think she takes after me

Last week, I went to pick raspberries with the girls and some of our friends, Jasmine and Sydney.

We had a good time and took a lot of pictures of the event.

When I got home and started going through them, I came across this one:
And I started laughing so hard!

I am so thankful for her personality and her sense of humor. She keeps us on our toes and makes us laugh, every single day!

We love you Elyn!!!!!!

"Celebrity" sighting, to come

Okay, I have mentioned that I LOVE Biggest Loser.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

I'm sure you can imagine how excited I am to find out that I will get to meet (or at least look at) one of the contestants this weekend.
Sean is going to be the worship leader at church Sunday! Our church is having a youth rally this weekend and Sean is coming for it and sticking around to lead worship.

I may not be able to sleep Saturday night. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!

The other side of the desk

I knew the day would come when I would be on the OTHER side of the desk...the PARENT side of it.

I knew it would come and I thought I would handle it with grace and poise and confidence.

I was POSITIVE I would handle it that way.

Yeah right.

I am a basket case and an idiot. It's like I have no education and I can't speak clearly when asking a question.

(I will be discussing Nora in the below scenario. Had I not just told you that, I'm sure you would have been able to figure it out. Because she is my FIRST BORN and all parents...ALL PARENTS...are hopelessly clueless and overprotective with their first borns. I think there should be special people who follow first-borns around and apologize to them for their parents. Because by the time the 2nd, 3rd or 4th comes around the parent is all relaxed and chilled and knows what to expect...very zen. Poor first-born children...and poor teachers of first-born children.)

My daughter is THREE (and a half). She expertly knows that name of each and every princess ever created by Disney and she can tell you every single member of her immediate and extended family (first and last names). She knows who her best friends are (because they are the children we have thrust her towards since she was zero) and knows all of the children in her Sunday school class. I know she is social and that she is loved by other children.

HOWEVER, when we ask her who she plays with at school, she says she plays alone and doesn't have any friends.

Knife. To. The. Heart.

Now, the mature/educated side of me knows that she does not sit in a corner all by herself every time she goes to MDO. I know that kids are not running up to her, pointing their fingers at her and screaming, "No one likes you!" and then run off laughing. I know that her teachers would never let her play, solo, for THREE weeks now and not let me in on her behaviors.

BUT the overprotective, mama bear side of me wants to plop myself down at the toddler table for the day to observe what is going on in the class. I want to encourage all the other little girls and boys to choose my daughter for a playmate. I want to carry her into class and promise her that I will play with her, I like her, I want to be her best friend. I want to tell her she doesn't ever have to go to the horrible school again and mommy will never, ever leave her.

I hate being on this side of the desk!

When I was a teacher, I KNEW what was going on. I was able to witness the interactions between the students. I could tell who was the "popular" one, the chatty one, the quiet one, the funny one. I knew who was being left out and who was being pushy. I KNEW EVERY THING.

(Power is so nice.)

I was the one who reassured the parents that their child was doing "just fine" in school and was "right on track" developmentally. I told the parents, "Oh no, he is GREAT in class! I never have to get on to him" while the parents looked at me like, "Is she really telling me the truth because I know he doesn't act like that at home."

Now, I am the one who is uncertain. And I do a lot of talking...

"Is my daughter a normal 3.5-year-old? How was she? She has a hard time sharing at home, is she yanking toys out of hands...because that is what she does to her sister. (Maybe that's why no one plays with her.) She can write her name...has she done that for you? I'll talk to her about leaving her shoes on at school...I'm so sorry! We will discuss that! She wants to bring a stuffed animal with her for rest time, is that okay? I noticed on her paper that she is having a hard time coloring within the lines? Should I be worried? No? Does she ask you to go to the potty? Because sometimes she is shy about telling someone she needs to go. I have extra clothes in her backpack just in case there is an accident..."

And do you know what the teacher is thinking this whole time? I do. I know, because I have thought the EXACT same thing. EXACTLY the same thing. The teacher is thinking, "SHUT UP! Nora is completely normal and hopefully you and all your questions won't change that fact."

And really, the whole time I am talking, I am wishing that someone would come up to me and smack me in the back of the head to get me quiet. I am annoying myself.

(And I promise it's not THAT bad...that's what I tell myself.)

So, this whole "no friends" problem is a hard one for me.

What do I do? What would you do?

This is the 2nd day she has mentioned this.

I don't want to be "that" mom and immediately call the teacher and ask who she plays with. BUT, I also don't want to let it go, just assuming that Nora doesn't know all the names of the kids in her class and is probably the life of the party.

Should I email? Should I bring it up next time she goes to school? Should I stop caring so much about how I "look" to her Mother's Day Out teacher? (yes.)

This is a hard side of the desk to be on.

Menu Plan Monday

Here is it is folks...enjoy:

Monday: meatballs subs, chips, apple slices

Tuesday: veggie cheese soup, rolls

Wednesday: chicken fricassee (crockpot version), brocolli

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: raviolli with bacon and spinach

Saturday: breakfast for dinner-french toast, sausage, fruit

Sunday: lunch-sandwiches; dinner-Bible Study

Game Day!

GO HOGS!!!!!

no longer caged

I love a baby crib. I love the way a crib looks and how it being in a room just screams "BABY".

But what I love the most about a baby crib is that it keeps your child trapped.

What? You think I'm a bad mom. Whatever, you love a crib for that very reason too.

Until tonight, I have been able to drop Elyn in her crib at 8pm and walk into her room at 8am and pick her up out of it.

Until tonight.
When I got home from my Ladies Night Out at church, this is what greeted me.

We have had the toddler bed in Elyn's room for a while now, letting her get used to the idea (or trying to get it out of the garage and clear up space). She has never really showed interest in it.

Until tonight.

Matthew said that tonight she wanted to sleep in it.

And he let her!

I am sad that my baby girl is growing up and that she no longer even needs a bed intended for a BABY.

But, truly, I am sadder that she is no longer confined and will be able to walk out of her room when she wakes up...whether it's at 2am, 4:30am, 6am or (please God) 8am.

It's a big night at our house and I hope a restful one too.

the closet

Remember this closet? My goal.

Well, I got started on my "goal" today.

Stay tuned.

It's back!!!!!!

If you didn't tune in for the premiere go to nbc.com and watch it.

OH MY GOODNESS-there are some BIG people this season.

Big.

Really big.

And let me say, before I had kids I would have not cried, openly, unless my arm had been cut off or my fingernails were ripped out of my hands.

Now that I have kids and my hormones have been turned upside down and inside out TWICE, I cry over ANYTHING.

I probably cried at least 6 different times during the premiere of Biggest Loser. SIX TIMES.

Ridiculous.

I love, love, love BL and better get my kleenex ready because I think there is going to be a lot more tears shed this season.

Set your DVR's and TiVo boxes and get ready to start feeling guilty for sitting on the couch.

nobody puts baby in a corner

How many of you watched this scene over and over and over in Junior High? I did (even thought I wasn't supposed to watch the movie...ha ha ha!)

dirty dancing - time of my life (video)2
Uploaded by carlson.

It makes me want to break out my dancing shoes and learn the routine with Matthew. I will be singing this song for the next week.

And how many of you wanted to take up pottery after watching Ghost? And thought pennies had power?



Patrick Swayze-died September 14, 2009...I thought he was a great dancer/actor.

Menu Plan Monday

Here it is...enjoy!

Monday: taco soup, nachoes

Tuesday: asta with chicken sausage and brocolli; texas toast

Wednesday: pork chops with mustard sauce; mashed potatoes; sliced tomatoes; grapes

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: Ladies Night Out for me!...pizza and green beans for the rest

Saturday: out to dinner with family

Sunday: sandwiches/leftovers-lunch; Bible Study-dinner

***Tuesday and Wednesday recipes are from Real Simple (of course). However, when I went to link them, I couldn't find them. I don't remember if I got these from this month's issue or not because I had already cut them out. Sorry!!! I'll try to remember to add them later.

my goal...

This is my goal for our front closet...I hope that my goal is completed by the end of the month (or next month).

because I haven't updated, here are some pictures

Nora started ballet/tap a few weeks ago. She really seems to like it but if you ask her to show you what she has learned, she will refuse to dance. I guess Matthew is going to have to wait until June, at the recital, to see that she has learned anything at all.

She's in a 3-4 class. Half the class is 3 and the tall girls are, obviously, 4. She has had 3 lessons and I have learned that she is the least coordinated and doesn't seem to possess any "natural ballet/tap" skills. But she does love to put her hands on her hips and dance and twirl in her skirt. And really, isn't that it's all about.

Over Labor Day weekend we went to Hattiesburg, MS. It's not a short drive.

We stopped in Little Rock Friday and picked up Matthew's sister, Julia and her baby, Noah. Julia's husband, Brian (aka Elyn's fave person ever) had a conference in FL and missed out on the van ride all the way to Mississippi. I know he's sad he didn't get to cram in the backseat with N and E.

I'm sad I didn't get a picture of our seating arrangement. Basically, after the 20+ hour round trip drive I am THANKFUL that we have a minivan! We rolled into H'burg around 2am. We were all ready to go to bed!

Here they are...cousins. All dark-eyed, and surprisingly, light-haired.

On Saturday, we stayed at the house, swimming, eating, laying around, coloring and shopping (ahem, Matthew and Aaron).

Matthew is trying out his dad's new contraption. It is supposed to stretch your back muscles. I just thought it looked funny.

Saturday night we went to eat at Leatha's. Best bar-b-que ribs EVER! I'm not kidding either. I think it's actually is a 4-star restaurant, although the attire and setting is not 4-star. If you are ever in Hattiesburg, this is a MUST place to eat. We go just about every time we are there.

Elyn had fun eating crackers and dipping them in bar-b-que sauce.

Nora was EXHAUSTED! She fell asleep on the car ride over and nearly fell asleep while eating. Not even her sprite had enough sugar in it to keep her awake.

This is my plate after I could not eat another bite. I wish I could go back and eat those beans.

When we got done eating, Noah decided to take a ride on one of the pigs before hopping back in the car.

Sunday we went to church and then ate lunch at the club.

This is where Elyn spent the majority of her weekend...being held by me or BEGGING to be held by me. It was really fun for me.

After church we went back to the house to celebrate Pop's 60th birthday!!!!!!! (When Matthew is 60 I predict he looks JUST like this-minus the cool glasses)

Couldn't you eat her up?

We went outside to take a whack at the pinata LeeLee (Leah) got Pops. Nora was so excited to eat all the candy that was inside.

And although Elyn didn't really know how to hold the club, she was excited about the candy too.

Uncle Aaron is spinning Pops around, getting him ready to knock the pinata.

Wow, what a hit!

When it fell apart, Nora and Elyn were very disappointed...it was full of 60 golf balls!!!!!!! LeeLee is so creative! (Side note: I imagined Pops hitting the pinata and it hurling through the air and the golf balls acting as missiles, shooting into the heads of my young. I kind of freaked out every time Jim hit it and was shuffling the girls from side to side to prevent a head injury...I felt a little like Kate Gosslin...not pretty!)

There was no candy, but the pinata came apart and they had fun hats!

Even Aunt Julia got a hat!

So there, you're caught up. That's what we have been doing.

I'm still trying to balance my new school schedule with my regular life. It will happen!

9.11.01

This commercial makes me cry EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

before and after

• before i had kids, i was QUITE stylish. my wardrobe was current and i knew the trends. NOW, the only thing that is current is my new t-shirt i got at a fundraiser last week.
• before i had kids, i could walk into my closet and feel extremely confident that EVERYTHING would fit with no problem at all. NOW i have a wide array of sizes to choose from: pre-pregnancy (i don't know why i still hold onto those), maternity, post-pregnancy, fat clothes, transition clothing. i never know what is going to fit from day to day...it's like a scavenger hunt every day.
• before i had kids my hair was BLONDE. NOW my hair is artificially blonde...but i am choosing to let it go dark-because really, who can keep up with blonde hair when i am spending hours going through the different sizes in my closet.
• before i had kids i drove a 4-door sedan. NOW i drive a mini-van. AND I LOVE IT!
• before i had kids, i set my alarm clock to wake me up, M-F, at 5:30am. NOW if i don't get to sleep until at least 7:30am, i feel as if i have gotten up with the chickens.
• before i had kids, i had never heard of Tyrone and Uniqua, thought the theme song for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was the one i grew up with, thought Dora was crazy with her huge head and best-friend monkey (and couldn't understand why a mom would want her kids to watch the freak) and thought the whole Princess thing was a faze. NOW, i am eating my thoughts. Tyrone and Uniqua are the BEST dancers on tv, i dance around the living room with the girls to the current MMCH theme song, still think Dora is crazy but allow my kids to watch her and understand the "whole Princess thing" is here to stay for a very long time.
• before i had kids, i cooked at home MAYBE 3 times a week. NOW, i cook SEVEN TIMES A WEEK.
• before i had kids, my saturdays were full of relaxing, laundry and Lifetime Movie marathon days. NOW my saturdays are pretty much like every other day of the week-busy.
• before i had kids, our house felt like the perfect size for the two of us. NOW our house seems way too big when Nora and Elyn aren't in it.
• before i had kids, i was content to get my daily hugs from Matthew. NOW, i would feel incomplete if my day wasn't full of hugs and cuddles and kids sitting in my lap and hanging all over me.
• before i had kids, all of my picture frames were full of pictures of the two of us (it was basically a shrine to Matthew and Dallas). NOW, my frames are full of my two favorite faces...N and E.
• before i had kids, i never got stressed about my school children getting sick. NOW, i HURT if my own children are sick.
• before i had kids, i thought life was just fine. NOW, life is GREAT.

I'm glad that my life is all about NOW.

signature

Well, she continues to grow and develop.

It was milestone night at our house...and not just because she wrote her name for the first time.

It was because she allowed me to help her.

She copied what I did on the left and I think she did pretty good. You can tell how proud she was of herself!

And, as one of "THOSE" moms I had to look to see where she should be developmentally...and she's on track.

Hallelujah.

what...again? HOW did this happen?

oh my word...they are having #19.

NUMBER NINETEEN!

That's a lot of kids. (and that's an understatement)

This family should be enough proof that breastfeeding is NOT an acceptable birth control.

Well, congrats I guess. I hope it's not twins.

day one

Well, we made it out the door on time...
which is really amazing considering it took them 30 minutes to eat TWO bites of breakfast, Nora insisted on spending several minutes "twirling" in her dress, Elyn was putting about a dozen baby dolls to bed and I had to take 20,000 pictures.

Aren't they funny? Well, that's the face they're making.

As you can tell, it's a little sunny by the front door in the mornings. They could barely look at me.

Walking into the building...

They both had a great day and I think are excited about going back. (and I had a great day too!)