Fantastic FlyLady!

Marla joined us on the show yesterday from Flylady.net and in 24 hours she's whipped me into shape!:) Flylady is one of my favorite websites and all about keeping a clean house with fun, easy, quick tips that anyone can follow. I've been trying to hook up with them for a while and it was so great to actually connect with Marla and get her ingenuous info! She's all about doing little stuff throughout the week so by Saturday and Sunday your house is spotless, you can take the weekend off and know that everything is caught up (including your car being cleaned out) and we can just play!!! Usually for me it's just the opposite because we do all the big stuff on the weekends. Anyway, last night it was actually fun because during the commercials of "Wife Swap the boys and I would jump up from our chairs, do a quick 5-minute room rescue and pick up all the toys and clean the area. By the end of the show, the entire house looked great!!! Not to mention we had a great time doing it because we were on a race before the show came back on. So needless to say, today I am feeling super motivated and determined to keep it up.
It's hard to believe February is here already! I still don't know what to get Grant for his birthday. He'll be turning 2 on Valentine's day and I'm trying to be more creative and get him something besides a typical toy. They all seem to end up in the toy box and ignored after a week and the boys have too many already. Still, I am stumped as to what my 2 year old would really get use out of. We might get a puppet theater but I'm still not sure. Better go, American Idol is on tonight!!!

False Alarm

Bring on the Braxton-Hicks! Not really. They have started though, and although I know it's perfectly normal, it's still a little scary when it happens at first. With my last pregnancy they didn't kick in until after 30 weeks and this time I'm a good month ahead of that. It's weird, I've also been having major cramps too but I've just chalked that up to stretching ligaments, etc. Overall I can't complain because those are the only discomforts I've noticed and I am grateful it's nothing major. I've also been a little less stressed about the weight gain issue. I think I just popped out during those few weeks and had to get used to the sudden big belly.:) With Grant the same thing happened but then I was pretty much in a holding pattern for a few months so, that's what I'm guessing will happen this time too. Aside from that we are getting ready from Grant's birthday in 2 weeks and a visit from Grammy in Florida! She'll be flying in for a week and I can't wait to see her and watch her interact with the boys again. It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since we saw her last! When kids are little that can seem like such a long time so I hope we can somehow see each other more now that we are settled. It still amazes me how much easier it is to FINALLY live by family. My mom and dad are always dropping by and it's the best gift I could've imagined. Not to mention the load off my shoulders knowing my kids are in good hands when my mom babysits. I hope we never move again, and I hope I never forget what a blessing it is to have healthy parents nearby!

Miss Daisy

Someone said I should post a photo of our dog so...here she is. Today has been good so far, no accidents yet so I hope she got it out of her system?! If you missed the story, just scroll down to my last entry.

Daisy Dilemma

Poor Daisy. Our dog is having a rough time lately and I don't know what to do. We've been in our a house exactly a month now and at first she did great. She seemed to adjust easily but now it seems like she is just not happy about something. I think every day this week she has had an accident in the house (ugh...our NEW carpet) and it's not because we aren't taking her out frequently either. She's been chewing things and getting into areas she knows are off-limits. I cannot tell you how little tolerance I have for that, just because I am very picky about having our new house stay nice and clean (as much as can be expected anyway). I'm sure some people will that I'm insensitive but frankly I'm just really frustrated and irritated by it. We give her attention, treats, and cuddle time so...what's the problem?! I wish I knew. I guess it's just a part of having a dog.
On a happier note, we are just getting bundled up and ready to play at the park! It's a beautiful day and supposed to get in the mid 50's! We are blessed with a great park nearby so that's where we'll be for several hours I'm sure.:)

Baby #3's Nursery

Here is a sneak peek at baby "G's" new nursery bedding! We had to buy a new set this time around because the last crib bedding we had was just not salvagable. This is a gender-neutral design (just in case we ever have a girl someday....Lol)? It's amazing how pricey some of the bedding is out there, in many cases it can cost more than the CRIB! I tell ya', the baby buisness is BOOMING and it boggles my mind how much certain things cost (and what people are willing to pay). I always love everything from Wendy Bellissimo but we've never been able to afford it, except this time the Honey Bee collection happened to be on sale!!! We snagged a major discount with this set. Unfortunately we still need a crib (yikes) and a high chair! I figured by baby #3 we would be set for life! Some things have just plain worn out though. Thank goodness we are set with clothes!:)

Copycat

Here are the boys posing in their new lockers! Grant has a boo boo just above his eye so my poor little buddy looks banged up, but he's okay thank goodness.:) It's so funny because Gabe and Grant are at a stage where they LOVE to mimic each other. Not only are they inseparable, but they always have to copy what the other is doing! From the way they sit and watch cartoons, to the songs they sing they are the mirror image of each other and it's such a neat stage! As you can see here, Grant crawled into the locker and Gabriel soon had to follow. I hope I can remember this forever because I know it might be a fleeting time!:)



Here they are playing Super Heroes (as usual)! Gabe is "The Thing" and Grant is "The Human Torch". Ahhhh gotta love the world of boys!

Gettin' Big!

I think at some point I want to compile a list of "What NOT to say to a Pregnant Woman".:) One of them being "Oh, are you sure you're not having twins?!"? It's an innocent comment but not to someone who is hormonal and already sensitive that they are huge! I have many more to add but I'm just mentally logging them in my brain until the right time.:) Thursday I had a doctor's appointment and it went well, everything looks good! The baby is about 1 pound now which is a pretty big milestone since I've reached the "viability" point. My belly has really popped too! I was going to post an updated photo but so far I'm just not happy with any of them yet. I keep blaming the "lighting" but somehow I don't think that's it. haha.

Running on Empty

It's been one of those weeks. Not enough time, energy, or daylight to get everything done. I'm used to that feeling of being pulled in different directions only right now I just feel like I'm coming up short in everything. I'm slacking in keeping the house clean, spending time with Jim, following up on e-mails, having enough energy for the boys, and getting any sleep. When I get this way it just stinks because then I get short tempered and then usually regret getting upset (or emotional) so easily. Hopefully today I can finally get a nap because I'm sure that's a big part of it. I also have a doctor's appointment so I'm excited to hear the heartbeat again and check up on my little boy! I should've gone a few weeks ago but that's how overwhelmed I've been, isn't that terrible?! Anyway baby "G" (as we are calling him) has been moving, rolling, and kicking like crazy! Gabriel just loves to talk to my belly and lately we have a joke that the baby can see out of my belly button so Gabriel will show him his favorite books, toys, etc. It's so cute.:) Meanwhile Grant has definitely hit the "terrible two's" right on schedule...heck even a month early! He's always been a strong-willed child and now that's even more pronounced. When he gets mad, he'll squat down, scream until his face turns red and his veins pop out on his neck, and yell like a banshee' until he's out of breath! In reading parenting books I know it's best to ignore that (esp. because he gets THAT upset over me just taking his binky away, or having to share a toy). Still, it's stressful for an already frazzled mom and dad, and I hate to see him so upset. The good news is that his vocabulary is just amazing already and he loves to talk and have a conversation. His little personality is so charming from the looks he gives, how he talks to me. The one thing about Grant is that everything he does, he does with passion. It sounds funny to say that about a baby but it's really true! Whether he's learning how to do a somersault or devouring his lunch, he just lives it up and I love that. Both the boys do really. Well I better get back to work. I have to get ready for our interview with Kristy Swanson from "Skating with Celebrities"!

MMMMM!

This time of year is notorious for super dry skin but Sephora helping combat that with their Whipped Body Delight lotions. You can get them in Coconut Nectar, Mashmallow Fluff, Mango, White Peach and more! Especially for you preggo ladies out there, I really rely on cocoa butter as my belly expands and this smells even better. You can get a small tub for $8 (not bad)! Just log on to www.sephora.com

I Cried Buckets!

Hang on, let me wipe the ton of tears off my face so I can write this! Thanks to the comment from DD about the video for "When I Get Where I'm Going" I decided to see if I could find it online. She was right, you need a tissue...or a box!! You can pull it up on Yahoo music and see the entire video, and I think cmt.com has it also. Wow, as if the song wasn't amazing enough, the video just makes you melt in your chair, hug your loved ones, and appreciate the memories of the ones we've lost. Yes I know this is super sappy today but the video is just THAT good, I'm tellin' ya.:)

By the way DD: Yes, I think that is a famous ice skater in the video (I can't remember his name), along with Ronald Reagan's son, Dale Earnhardt's wife, and other famous people who have lost a loved one too (Dolly is showing a picture of her dad).

In a Funk

Hey thanks for all of the great comments lately! My last few posts have some nice feedback so thank you for chiming in, it's always nice to hear from those of you who take the time to read my page.
Over the weekend we went to the Y and it was so funny to see the sudden surge of people hitting the gym. I remember when I worked as a "Fitness Consultant" at a gym and seeing such a great turnout in January, and then watching it slowly taper off. It' s so hard to stay motivated and find the time though, I give anyone credit who just goes at all. After trying "The Firm" again, doing Tae Bo and looking for at-home workouts, I decided to just stick with the Y for now. This week I have a doctor's appointment and I am nervous to find out how much weight I've gained. I really feel terrible....and huge already. I feel so bad to complain because after all, I would trade my figure any day for a healthy pregnancy and baby. Still, flashbacks of gaining close to 60 lbs with Gabe keep coming back to me, and the difficulty and depression of trying so hard to get rid of it afterwards. A friend of mine e-mailed me (she is due in February) and she said she's still running several miles a day, and/or walking 2-3 miles....and she's 9 months pregnant! So that made me feel like a big lazy goof, hence the fierce return to the Y!!!
Although I have to say, having our own house again has helped keep me moving throughout the day. It seems like I am forever picking up random clutter (a sock on the floor, a puzzle piece or toy). Yesterday at Target I saw a section of toys for 75% off and for the first time I wasn't even tempted to look! The boys have so many toys it's overwhelming and it's not like we buy a lot....they've just kind of accumulated over time. It seems like every room there is a corner for toys and so many of them never even get played with. It's always a hard balance because I try so hard to keep the house clean (okay spotless) but I don't want to neglect time with the boys because I'm so focused on cleaning constantly. So the challenge is finding enough play/learning time, but also teaching them that it's important to have a clean house. Okay, it's Y-time better get going!:)

Pictures!

I was just going through recent pictures and realized I never posted any of them. Earlier this week it was "Dad's Day" at Gabe's preschool and the boys had a blast! I am posting the guys hanging out, then another as Gabriel prepares to get a strike in bowling.:) It looked like such a special day, I'm so grateful Jim was able to go and I hope it will be a wonderful memory for both of them.




The PBK lockers finally arrived!! Here is Gabe showing off his "Wolverine" pose as he displays the new item.:)

Super Sling!!

Zolowear.com has some gorgeous baby slings if you are in the market! They have definitely come a long way in style over the past few years. The LaLeche League along with pediatricians and many another groups advocate baby slings as a wonderful way to bond with your baby. The great thing about slings is that you can really get a lot of mileage out of them and continue to "wear" your baby long after the traditional front baby carriers. This particular sling is absolutely gorgeous but too much for us with a price tag of $159.00. The good news is that there are some affordable, adorable slings that you can also choose from now too!!! To see the selection, go to www.zolowear.com.

When I Get to Where I'm Going

Every once in a while a song will come along that seems to transcend music in some ways. It can transform into someone's life anthem, or healing words they needed to hear. The latest song that I've latched onto and instantly love is the new Brad Paisley/Dolly Parton ballad. During the CMA awards in November I caught the live performance and was moved from the moment I heard it. Now he released the single and every time I hear it, I cry! I downloaded the song a few days ago and now Jim has become attached to it also. The song is about Heaven basically, and what will happen "When I Get to Where I'm Going'". For some reason I really think of Jim when I hear it, and a few men in my life specifically that can strongly relate to that song. No to mention Dolly is my hero and I love how she adds so much to it. So anyway, if you get a chance to hear it, be warned you might need a tissue!

Learning how to Juggle

Well here we are 3 1/2 months from baby #3 coming into the world! I can hardly believe that I'm 22 weeks pregnant already. Time is going by so fast and before you know it Easter season will be here, then spring, and then we'll be welcoming our baby boy! I remember when we were pregnant with Grant I was so petrified that I would not be able to juggle everything without feeling totally overwhelmed. I worried about being able to love a new baby as much as I loved Gabriel. I worried about how I would juggle both of them and give them each the same amount of love, attention, affection, and stimulation they needed individually. Heck, I worried how I would even go out in public by myself and handle 2 small children. Now of course I look back and realize everything I was so concerned about ended up being fine. I instantly adored Grant with the same intense love as I feel for Gabe. Everything else just fell into place and now I can't imagine my life before they were both here! So this time around I am much more at ease with the upcoming transition. Jim on the other hand is freaking out! Lol. He says there is just no way that we can go out...anywhere anymore. To the store, the mall, even the YMCA he thinks it will be just too difficult (especially if I'm by myself). I just laugh because I figured if we worked it out before, we'll find a way this time too. It's just funny to see him getting worked up this time, and stressing about the same things I did last time. Maybe I am in for a rude awakening but at this point I feel pretty confident with how we've been able to adjust. Still, I could use prayers that it goes smoothly! Lol. Well I have to go exercise while I have the chance. So far I've been getting my workout in almost every day and although it stinks DURING the routine, afterwards I feel so much better! Slowly I feel like I'm making a "habit" of working out again which I know for me is the key to sticking with it.

**Shopping Tip**
Thanks to Brenda who e-mailed me a great tidbit!! She said Chrildren's Place is offering some major bargains and deep discounts. You can go online at www.childrensplace.com for more info. Thanks Brenda!

Double Decker Stroller

I've been meaning to post this for like a year (and maybe I actually did? It all runs together at this point).:) Anyway, I recently saw this stroller featured in Parents magazine and it reminded me to talk about it. It's called an E3 from Phil and Ted's, and seems to do it ALL! It goes from an infant stroller, to jogging stroller, and even to this double-decker version pictured!! I love it because it's also narrow and thin, unlike most double strollers. My Jeep double stroller is seriously like a semi tractor-trailer and is very difficult to maneuver in small spaces. This is great because they tout it as lightweight and still easy to steer through stores, and rugged terrain. The only drawback (in my opinion) is that at nearly $400 it's just way too expensive (for us anyway). Still it's a cool concept, maybe they will come out with a more budget-friendly version soon?

My entry will be short and sweet today. I have to give the boys a bath, start the laundry, and run errands etc. This weekend has been busy but fun. We are really getting comfortable with the house and I can tell the boys loving every inch of the extra space.:) We've been dancing around, playing hide & seek, and helping Gabe with a game he calls "Super Hero's". He has a Marvel encyclopedia so he knows just about every comic book character and he will pit the bad guys against the good guys (Gabe likes to be Juggernaut, I'm Wolverine, Jim is the Human Torch, and Grant is Ice Man). It's just to funny to me that he can retain all of that information and who-has-what when it comes to their super powers! I have more to write today but I need to go for now. Maybe I can squeeze another entry out when the boys take their nap later. Have a great day!!

Eating Issues

Nope not with the kids. This time it's me! The problem is I just can't seem to eat enough food. I have just been ravenous lately and it's worrying me because the things I'm craving aren't necessarily healthy. The good news is, I've been filling up on cucumbers, nuts, grapes, apples, things that are nutritious BUT... I still feel hungry so I've been adding in doughnuts, brownies, and just general junk. What is going on with me?! Obviously I'm pregnant but I don't remember having such a fierce appetite during my other pregnancies. Even when I gained over 50lbs with Gabe it wasn't like this (just bad habits back then). Maybe I have a parasite?! Lol. Last night we cleared out the basement and got everything set up for the kids to play, and me to workout. Tonight I am going to start my "Firm" again and hope that it seems to curb my appetite, or at least help curb my weight!:) Coincidentally, I ran across a good article on www.Babycenter.com while the kids were sleeping (no nap for mom today). Anyway, it offers tips for moms to get in shape and these are a few pointers: Keep it simple* Take the kids * Find a fitness buddy -- or two *Set a goal *Keep it fun *You don't have to be a jock* It takes a village.

I want to go back and read it because it has advice from super-fit moms on how they do it. Always nice to know people's secret to success. Speaking of which, the Biggest Loser is on tonight and I can't wait to see it! It's a special edition episode and I just love that show so wedefinitelyinately camping out in front of the tv for that one!

Love the Lockers

That darn Pottery Barn, I'm hooked now! These lockers are just too cool and such a smart idea for the boys. I actually saw them over a year ago during a trip to the Mall of America in Minneapolis. I thought they were so neat and I kept my eye on them ever since.:) Wouldn't you know it, they happen to be on sale and we need extra storage space for the kids coats, etc! So now the PBK Tri-Locker is making it's way to our new house. No more buying from here on out, that is a promise!
On another note, it felt great to be back at work and together with the team again. We had a fun morning and today I was able to come home and have both boys take a nap and for once, we all slept! That is what I was hoping for, now it's just a matter of keeping a consistent routine. Baby #3 has been kicking like crazy and I'm already getting to the point where I am anxious to meet him and hold his little body. I have 4 months to go!! Now that we are settled in the house (pretty much) I am looking forward to starting "The Firm" again. I always say it's the best workout I've ever done and right now I need something major to whip me into shape so it's not such a tough road after the baby gets here. I also set a goal to run a marathon in 2007 and I'm serious about it (so far) haha. Really though, if Oprah can do it, I can do it too (okay, granted she had a personal trainer, cook, and support system)Lol. Anyway, I've been thinking about it for months and gauging if I could REALLY pull it off but now that the New Year is here, I decided to make the promise and set the goal. Even though it won't happen until next year, I'll have to start training mid-summer whenever I get the doctor's okay, Well that's it for today. Hope you had a safe, blessed happy New Year!

Home Pic

The house still isn't ready for pictures yet but I am excited so here it is anyway!:) This is the office, right off the entryway. The big black cabinet won't be there but it was too heavy for me to move it out of the way for now. The chandelier will also be replaced by a different light (I know that looks kinda funny).:) Anyway, I wanted to post this because I think you can see the awesome paint affect on the wall, and the marbling on the column. We are so excited with the girl who painted the house, she did a better job than I ever imagined!! After spending a lot of time, money, and energy painting our last house (and screwing it up bad) I realized this time we needed help in that department.:) I know painting is simple for most people but for some reason the colors, or the effect just never looked right when Jim and I tried it. If you need an excellent painter, let me know and I will give you her info. (she does it all).:) Today I think we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sue (my boss) gave the morning show the day off tomorrow and now I am sooooo grateful for the extra time! We all knew this would be a 100% working-vacation...no relaxation, no fun stuff really. Still, I feel bad for the boys that we haven't even spent one day just focusing on them or doing something fun as a family. With the extra day tomorrow, I think we might go bowling, or to Chuck E Cheese or something to unwind and celebrate!