Monday, April 18, 2011

The 60 Day Slimdown

I finally decided that I needed some help to lose 30 lbs.  That’s when I got this…

http://www.momsintofitness.com/dvds/dvds-lindsay-brin-60-day-slimdown

I’m one day in and I’m really excited about it.  This program tells me what exercises to do on her DVDs, gives me a meal plan, a weight/inches tracker, and a fitness test etc.  Great thing, she specifically outlines what to do if you’re nursing your baby or not.  I’m blogging about this only for the shear fact that I need extra motivation to stick with it.  So for the next 60 days I’ll do updates on how much weight I’ve lost as well as how many inches.  Wish me luck and here’s to getting my body back!  Yee Haw!  (Oh and to be clear, I do not expect to lose 30 pounds in 2 months.  My goal is 2 pounds a week so that would be 16 pounds.)

 

OH and tomorrow starts potty training…I’m sure you’ll be hearing about how that goes in the next few days!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Fun day at Hee Haws

Yesterday my friends and I decided to get together and head to Hee Haw Farms.  Tyson had a blast.  He saw some animals and their babies, ride on a little train thingy, go down a slide and play with a tractor.  I couldn’t get him to leave the tractor behind so we missed the hay ride.  We almost got to ride a pony but it wouldn’t cooperate anymore.  We had a nice time and the weather was beautiful.  I could go for that kind of weather for the rest of my life : )  Andrew missed everything because he was very comfy and asleep in my carrier.  Man, I love that thing.  Here are some pictures! 

I honestly thought it was super neat that we could get so close to the animals and even pet them.  I’m not a big animals person, so for me to say that is well, shocking :)

He followed these two around and kept saying, “Look the baby loves his mommy!”  I think it was also his way of saying that he loves me too ;)

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He started to push the hay up to the cow’s mouth and say, “Eat it cow.  It’s for you!” 

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He thought this one was pretty funny.  It was kind of playing peek-a-boo or something out of that little shed.

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A really big tractor that he wanted a picture with.

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This is the small riding tractor that I couldn’t get him off of.  Seriously, he could have played with this for hours.  He was too short to pedal it but he tried soooo hard!  He eventually got off of it and just started to push it around instead.  What dedication.  I would have dropped that thing so fast if it had been me…

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He patiently waited for his turn to ride this “train”.  He did so great waiting.  When it was his turn, it was all smiles the entire time!

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Some of the ladies and kiddos!  Thanks everyone for inviting us along!

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

3 year and 2 month appointments

I took both kiddos to the Dr. yesterday for Ty’s 3 year and Andrew’s 2 month well visits.  It honestly turned out to be not so bad!  In fact, it was completely manageable.  I did have to wait for about 15 minutes but honestly, it was so nice to have one right after the other.  *sigh*  Let’s start with Andrew because the Dr. started with him first yesterday :)

*Andrew*

Length: 22 1/4 inches—50%

Weight: 10 lbs 3 oz—25%

Head Circumference:  39 cm—50%

He is growing at a rapid pace, as most babies do at this age.  He is a healthy boy that is 10 lbs!  For someone who gave his mommy such a scare with losing more than 10% of his body weight in the beginning has certainly come a long way.  I reviewed Tyson’s status with Andrew’s when he was 2 months and they aren’t identical but pretty close. 

Andrew has started to coo and make the cutest little baby sounds in the world.  He does it in the afternoon after he eats and then also at night before bedtime.  So fun!  Brian and I both find ourselves saying to the other, “Hurry!  Hurry!  He’s smiling!  Get over here!!!”  Even though we have seen him do it a hundred times already, we still come running. 

All of the baby acne that I thought Andrew had has turned out to be eczema.  I think it was baby acne at first but the last week or so it just exploded to the point that I thought it was something else but was in denial.  Well, now I feel awful that I made my little guy be so uncomfortable.  The Dr. told me it should clear up in about a week with Hydro Cortisone 1% cream morning and night and then to use the Aquafor lotion as well.  What I am hearing from everyone is that the key is to get rid of it and then manage it and keep on top of it.  I’m wondering why he has it because no one in our family on either side has it.  I do have sensitive skin but not THAT sensitive.  So anyone with tips because their baby had it or still does have it, let me hear it.  I’ll do anything to help him so much that I wish I could have it and take it away from him : (

He is still sleeping like a champ from about midnight until 7, hit or miss by an hour or so on either side.  He takes an awesome nap in the morning and not so great naps in the afternoon and then takes another great one in the evening.  He had quite a bit of congestion last week and he woke me up because he was choking one night.  I worried about him so I stuck him to sleep in his bouncy chair.  Hopefully I can get him to sleep just has well on his back again.  I’m hoping by doing that the whole cry it out fiasco won’t be as bad.  It was B-A-D with Tyson and I only have myself to blame for that one. 

He did alright with his shots.  He cried for awhile but that also had to do with the fact that he was hungry and tired.  Not the greatest combo but he was a trooper nonetheless and I’m pretty sure he still loves me because he smiled and “talked” to me last night.

Here is the adorable Mister Andrew just a-smilin’-away on his 2 month old Birthday!  He doesn’t look all that different from his 6 week pictures.  However, he has mastered the art of smiling since then!

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Here is a picture of him smiling after I put the “medicine” on his face this morning : (  My goodness, he is so cute even with all that redness!IMG_0379

 

*Tyson* 

Weight: 35.2 lbs—75%

Height:  38 inches—50%

The words right out of the Dr.’s mouth were, “His weight has finally caught up with his height.”  Yeah, I’ll say!  He’s such an awesome eater and rarely refuses to eat something so I wasn’t too surprised.  I asked the Dr. about whether he should still be taking naps.  He said if he is, let him but try not to rub it in your friends faces.  He says the nap should drop off soon but to enjoy it while it lasts.  He didn’t have to tell me any of that twice!  I also asked about potty training and he said really just wait until he appears completely interested.  I told him sometimes he is and sometimes he isn’t.  He said then give it a shot but to not push him because it is a battle I will not win.  Okay, Ty, after my dad leaves we’re starting to potty train.  Fingers are crossed that you will be ready and you won’t fight me.  Trains, stickers, charts, and jelly beans are my weapons of choice…what are yours?!

Tyson says some adorable/funny things lately.  Here are some examples:

*One afternoon he said to me, “We’re family mom!”  I was beaming with pride because he understands the concept of a family and then he slightly burst my bubble by continuing on and saying, “and Thomas (the train) too!”  Yeah, he should be apart of this family.  He is everywhere I turn! : )

*Two nights in a row Tyson woke up in the middle of the night, once at 3 am and the other at 12:30 am. Both times he says to me, “I think it’s too early to play outside.”  Yeah, ya think?!

He has let me sleep in for a few days now and it makes me want to give him the biggest hugs and kisses.  What kid wakes their mom up to get them breakfast at like 7 and then lets her go back to sleep with his little brother until 8:30?!  When that happens I make sure to tell him Thank you and then I call him my angel.

He did good with his shots too.  I was a mess though when he got his.  Okay, seriously, it only gets worse as they get older guys.  He is at that age where he vocalized, “Ouch!  Mommy, that hurt” through gigantic tears and gasping for his breath whilst screaming.  I blurted out so fast, “Do you want to go to the store and get a Thomas coloring book?”  Then it hit me.  I completely and totally understand now why my own mother would let us go get ice cream or pick out a small toy after getting our shots.  It was awful.  He forgave me though because he got a sucker and than we picked out a coloring book, but still. 

Here he is after a bath this morning letting me know that he is now 3!

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I also went to the store all by myself yesterday with the kids for the first time.  Wasn’t too bad other than the fact that I FELT like I had just burned 500 calories.  Sweatin’ and everything.  It’s shame it really wasn’t 500 calories.  ; )

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Pirate Island

After the birthday party my brother and his family came to hang out for a few hours.  We all chatted and caught up on life.  I multi-tasked by also spending the whole visit cleaning my kitchen.  It was an utter disaster from making the cupcakes frantically earlier in the day.  I didn’t think that making cupcakes would take me over 2 hours but it did.  Lesson learned.  Start much, much earlier.  I have issues with thinking things won’t take me as long as they do.  That includes pretty much every aspect of my life ; )  Anyway, so for dinner we all went to Pirate Island.  We ate pizza, chatted and played arcade games.  I forgot to keep my camera for when we were playing so I don’t have any pictures from that but I have an AMAZINGLY fun picture of the kids at dinner.

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I love this picture so much.  Max eating a hamburger while making a pirate face, Madi smiling, and Brian and Tyson making pirate faces. 

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ARRRGH!  Thanks Grandma for our fun evening at Pirate Island!

Coming up next is our visit to the pediatrician for both kids.  Thank you Dr.’s office for scheduling my son’s 3 year and other son’s 2 month appointments at the same time!  I hate those small, tiny rooms they make you wait in.  Am I the only one that walks out of the appointments, sweating, with high blood pressure and swearing to just show up a half an hour late to make the waiting shorter? Well, at least I can kill two birds with one stone by only one visit.  I wonder what the Dr. has to say though about Tyson and how he is not potty trained.  Thank goodness I have a nice pediatrician who can humor me…

Birthday Weekend Part II

On Saturday morning Brian let Tyson open a present from us.  He was suppose to wait until his birthday party but he was too anxious, yeah, it was Brian that was too anxious!  When I woke up Brian had built Tyson a Thomas the train track that covered almost our entire living room floor.  I should have taken a picture.  It was impressive! 

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Saturday afternoon we had Tyson’s birthday party!  It was of course a Thomas the Train party.  Tyson went with me to pick up the supplies on Monday and hadn’t stopped talking about it.  He was soooo excited for his Thomas party!  Here are some of the decorations.

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Tyson getting sung to and eating his “Thomas” cupcake.  I’m so glad that he just accepted the cupcakes as “Thomas” ones.   I am no artist and those were the best I could do.

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Here he is opening some of his presents!  He got some very thoughtful and awesome gifts.  He got 2 games, a sleeping bag, a play tent, a scooter, a Thomas the train flashlight, and a Thomas the Train backpack which included Play-dough and a surprise truck ; ) Thanks everyone!

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(I was joking with my sister in law about how we always take pictures in front of this fireplace.  We live in a condo and so any party that we have we have at the clubhouse.  It is super nice.  So no, this is not our house and not our amazingly, beautiful fireplace.)

Happy Birthday Tyson!  We can’t believe you are already 3.  You’ve learned so much this past year and we look forward to helping you grow even more this year.  You say the funniest things now-a-days and you certainly keep us on our toes!  We love you Ty Ty. (I swore I would never use a nick name like that for you but I couldn’t help myself!)

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Birthday Weekend Part I

Tyson had an awesome birthday weekend!  He turned 3 on Friday and got to have a special Skype session with Grandma and Grandpa Murray.  He was able to open one of their presents to him while Skyping.  It was really fun to see how excited he got to show them off the present and tell Grandpa to come play with the crane from the set with him.  Luckily, Grandpa does get to come play with the crane with him in less than 2 weeks!  Here are some pictures from the Skype call!

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After the Skype call Tyson walked around and sang “Happy Birthday” to himself.  It went something like, “Happy Birthday Tyson, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday.”  Not right but close enough!

Later that day after Brian got home from work we asked Tyson where he wanted to have his birthday dinner.  Well, as most kids would probably say he asked for McDonalds!

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I have a super funny story about a little boy there.  While we were eating there was a boy that was probably 4 that had just showed up.  He walked right over to where you’re suppose to take your shoes off and pulled down his pants.  Yeah, it was hilarious.  I couldn’t stop laughing.  Right after he pulled them down he looked at the shoe cubbies and realized he was suppose to take his shoes off instead.  He just pulled those pants right back up, sat down and took the real article of clothing off that he was suppose to…his shoes.

Anyway, after McDonalds we went to Kangaroo Zoo.  Tyson also choose that.  He ran around like crazy and had a blast.  If you don’t know what Kangaroo Zoo is it is a huge warehouse where they have a ton of blow up slides, obstacle courses, etc.  He always loves it there.  

Going down the slide with Dad!

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Okay, this picture makes me laugh so hard!  What an interesting and difficult way to climb up a ladder!!!DSCN0554-1

He made it!  Thankfully :)

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Sunday, April 3, 2011

Church, Smiles and General Conference

I’ll first start off with some not so wonderful things to say.  I normally like to keep my posts cheerful but this is something I have to write about.

It all has to do with our new church schedule. 

Our current ward split, which means I don’t get to see my friends from the Gables every Sunday.  If that isn’t bad enough, they changed us to a different building and the blocks are reversed.  That means it is Relief Society/Priesthood, Sunday School and THEN Sacrament meeting.  I thought it would be rough BUT rough is a complete understatement.  The first time to do this new schedule was last week.  So last Sunday started slow and I started to get ready for church at 10:30.  Well, Andrew started to get pretty fussy that morning which made it difficult to get ready.  Church started at 12:30 and I got there at 1:00.  Considering that I contemplated not going at all because of how getting ready was going I was pretty proud of that.  It was my first time getting me, Tyson and Andrew all ready for church by myself (because Brian is currently working on Sundays from 7 am to 6 pm).  Andrew ended up being an angel at church and slept the entire time in his car seat.  BUT because Tyson went to Nursery before Sacrament meeting he was totally and completely WIRED.  He was acting crazy and bad.  He was yelling out, throwing things into the air, standing on the bench and jumping off of it.  He has had his moments in church for sure but I don’t remember it being this bad for a long, long time.  If Andrew hadn’t been so great I would have left in the middle of a talk, crying and dragging a soon-to-be 3 year old behind me and we would have gone straight home.  However, I hung in there.  Brian’s mom gave me a bunch of new quiet toys to take to church.  I really think he’ll like what is in store.  Fingers crossed that next Sunday goes a little bit smoother. 

On Friday night we took our friends Joe, Heather and Dallin to the Blue Lemon.  Brian and Joe made a bet over the March Madness bracket and who ever lost had to buy the other family dinner.  Well, we had the pleasure of buying and I insisted on the Blue Lemon.  It is super yummy and I’m so glad we got to hang out.  Funny little story though.  We had just got our food and started to eat when a server came over with a plate of 4 cupcakes and 2 cookies.  She told us these treats were taken care of by someone.  We told her that she must have the wrong table.  She told us that it was from an Uncle and to look around.  Turns out Joe’s Uncle was eating across the way and bought us all dessert.  I thought that was so nice and Brian and I have never even met him.  I thought that was really cool!

On Friday night (April 1st!) Andrew slept for 8 hours straight.  I woke up confused but felt so rested.  I forgot what it was like to get un-interrupted sleep.  It was fantastic.  I am so glad he choose to be nice to me on April Fools day instead of playing a prank and waking up every few hours.  Love him!   He has also started to smile.  He does it when we talk to him in a high-pitched voice and smile really big.  These are the best pictures I could get of it.  It doesn’t last long and he has only done it a few times the last day or two!

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This weekend was General Conference.  It is so nice to hear from our church leaders.  I loved Elder Scott’s talk about marriage and eternal family.  I think I cried through almost all of the talk.  I think it was amazing.  If you’re interested here is the link to the talk.  Start 12 minutes and 30 seconds in…

http://lds.org/general-conference/watch/2011/04?lang=eng&vid=877215388001

  While Conference was on Tyson played with Play-Dough.  It kept him entertained and quiet for an entire 2+ hours.  Here he is making a mess and enjoying every minute of it!

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I told him to smile and these are the faces he gave me.  Apparently he heard me say, “Make a happy, sad and than mad face.”  Silly boy!

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And this is what Andrew did during Conference.  ; )  At least he has an excuse…

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Tyson says some pretty funny things during the day and I just wanted to share a few that make me laugh.

**Anytime he wants gum he walks up to me and says, “What’s the deal…I keep it in my mouth.”  I started only giving him gum when he could repeat to me that he had to keep it in his mouth.  He has had a problem in the past of taking it out and it ending up in places around the house.  I would say “Okay, but what’s the deal?  You have to keep it in your mouth and if you take it out I won’t give you any again.”  Super cute and makes me smile every time.

**I love how he says Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich.  He says, “Peaner Butter Sandwich.”

**Chocolate Chip Cookies comes out as “Chocolate Chips Cookie.”